Harris County Bible Case Pre-Season Report:

No real news on the Harris County Bible these days, but I thought I would put out some of the background stats on the players.

The case is currently pending in the 5^th circuit court of appeals, docket Nos. 04-20667, 04-20732, and 04-20742. Kay Staley’s attorney Randall L. Kallinen is still on the case (and also a big player in the local ACLU, though I don’t think the ACLU is officially involved in this case). Also filing an appearance on her case is Ayesha Khan and Richard Brian Katskee, both of whom are affiliated with Americans United for Separation of Church & State, a D.C. based group that advocates separation issues.

Ayesha Khan is the legal director of the organization, and has been lead counsel on several similar cases including Doe v. Foster (about school prayer in Louisiana), and recently heavily involved in part of Glassroth v. Moore, the case that brought about the removal of the Alabama courthouse ten commandments and its advocate Justice Roy Moore. Richard Katskee is the assistant director of the organization. He is formerly of Mayer, Brown, Roe and Maw (their bio of him here), and has been a law clerk for the 9^th and 2^nd circuit. These three certainly have credentials out the wazoo.

On the other side is Harris County Attorney Mike Stafford (R), represented by Bruce S. Powers, Assistant County Attorney. Unfortunately I can’t find any info about Bruce Powers right now. (Disclosure: I voted for Stafford, and I probably will again).

Also associated is the Star of Hope Mission, who’s unsuccessful attempt to intervene produced this rather scathing order. It is represented by Benjamin W. Bull and Josua William Carden (apparently with local counsel Michael G.Tapp) of the Alliance Defense Fund Law Center, an organization devoted to opposing ACLU action related to Church and State (really--read this). I do not have the actual documents, but it appears that SOH has been kicked from the lawsuit on appeal as well, though one of the cases on the docket might be their appeal of that order.

So metaphorically we are in the pre-season of the appeal. The attorneys and their clients are pretty much set, but the arguments are just being formulated. You (and I) should be prepared for a couple of years before this issue is really settled, unless the county decides to settle. (I say county because I see little chance that Staley will change her mind). Hurry up and wait.