YORBA-LINDA, California - September 5, 2008 - The Placentia-Yorba Linda School District and Esperanza High School rejected a request for the Bible club, even though the school allows students to form and join other types of clubs. The school's actions deny equal access on the basis of religion, according to Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI).

"The leaders of this club contacted us at the Pacific Justice Institute," Dacus explains. "We filed a lawsuit, and we're pleased to announce that the federal judge granted us a preliminary injunction on the matter, ordering the school district to no longer discriminate against this Bible, [this] Christian club."

Since it is only a temporary injunction, the attorney explains, school officials will decide whether to comply.

"When a judge gives a preliminary injunction, that's a strong signal to the other side - in this case, the school district - that they're probably going to lose and that they should try to make things right and correct their error as quickly as possible," Dacus adds.

According to a PJI press release, U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney believes that "freedom for students to choose between participation in diverse clubs and to shop around in the marketplace of ideas furthers one of the schools' most important educational missions: to develop leaders and citizens capable of democratic participation."

Institute attorneys will be ready to go to trial if they do not meet the terms. The head of PJI's southern California office, Karen Milam, argued the case and was thrilled that "the court has once again found that students do not lose their First Amendment rights when they enter the schoolroom door."