Fact Check: Supreme Court's 4-4 Split Left Oklahoma Charter School Ruling Intact, Angering Trump Allies
What We Know
On May 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 split decision regarding the proposed establishment of a religious charter school in Oklahoma, specifically the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. This tie vote effectively upheld a prior ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which had blocked the charter school on the grounds that it would violate both state and federal constitutional provisions regarding the separation of church and state (New York Times). The decision did not provide any reasoning, as is customary in cases of an equally divided court, meaning that the lower court's ruling remains in effect without setting a national precedent (State Court Report).
Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case, which some speculate may have contributed to the tie. Her recusal was notable given her connections to advocates of religious charter schools, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest (New York Times). Following the ruling, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt expressed his disappointment and indicated that the issue was far from settled, suggesting that future cases would likely arise (New York Times).
Analysis
The Supreme Court's 4-4 split left the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling intact, which stated that allowing a charter school to operate with a religious curriculum would violate constitutional prohibitions against government establishment of religion. This ruling aligns with the longstanding principle that public funds should not support religious institutions, a position supported by various legal scholars (State Court Report).
The reliability of the sources reporting on this case is generally high, particularly the coverage from established news organizations like the New York Times and The Guardian, which provide detailed accounts of the court's decision and the implications for future cases. However, the political implications of the ruling, particularly regarding the reactions from Trump allies, may introduce some bias in interpretation. Reports indicate that figures within Trump's circle expressed frustration over Barrett's recusal and the court's decision, suggesting a potential rift between the former president's allies and the judicial branch (CNN).
Conclusion
The claim that the Supreme Court's 4-4 split left the Oklahoma charter school ruling intact, angering Trump allies, is True. The tie upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision, which blocked the establishment of a religious charter school, and the reactions from Trump allies indicate dissatisfaction with the outcome, particularly regarding Justice Barrett's recusal.
