How Speaker Mike Johnson’s plans for a Christian law school unraveled

Louisiana House Speaker Mike Johnson sought to establish a private law school in the state that would limit its faculty and student body to Christians. He argued that his proposal would help produce more attorneys with Christian values. The proposal was broadly opposed by many stakeholders in the legal profession, including attorneys, professors, and law school organizations.

The proposal faced a variety of legal and political challenges. Attorneys from the American Association of Law Schools argued that the school would amount to a preference for religious beliefs in violation of First Amendment rights. They argued that permitting the school to discriminate on the basis of religious belief would create a two-tiered system in the legal profession that would be detrimental both to the profession and to the equal application of justice.

Politically, the proposal was also controversial. It was opposed by many Democratic lawmakers who argued that it was unconstitutional and would create an inequitable legal system. Additionally, some Republicans argued that the proposal was too divisive and that it could lead to the erosion of other protections in the state’s legal system.

Overall, Speaker Johnson’s plan failed to come to fruition as a result of the legal and political opposition that it faced. Ultimately, the proposal was blocked in the legislative process and ultimately went nowhere.