Last fall Oklahoma was the first state to ban foreign and/or sharia law from consideration in state courts. The director of CAIR Oklahoma, Muneer Awad, then sued the state and the certification of the vote was temporarily stopped by a judge appointed by President Clinton. The State Election Board advised the court they will appeal the ruling.
Below are the other states who have bills pending:
– ALASKA: Rep. Carl Gatto (R) has introduced SB 88, which invokes the Constitution to make sure that “foreign law is prohibited.”
– ARIZONA: Arizona’s anti-sharia law is HB 2582, the “Arizona Foreign Decisions Act.” In addition to banning the implementation of Sharia law, the bill would also ban “canon law, halacha and karma.”
– ARKANSAS: Arkansas’s antisSharia bill is SB 97, which says that the “the recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgment or ruling is limited to the extent that its 33 enforcement would not directly conflict with the public policy of Arkansas.”
– GEORGIA: Rep. Mike Jacobs (R) has introduced a bill that would “ban the use of sharia law in state courts.”“We’re seeing more of a feeling that Sharia law should be applied in domestic cases.”
– INDIANA: Indiana’s SRJ 16 would prohibit courts from enforcing a “law, rule, or legal code or system established from a jurisdiction outside the states of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the territories of the United States if doing so would violate a right guaranteed by this constitution or the Constitution of the United States.”
– LOUISIANA: Louisiana passed a law guarding against “international law” being used in its courts in June 2010.
– MISSISSIPPI: House bill 301 was introduced to ban “Mississippi courts from using foreign laws including sharia law.
– NEBRASKA: Legislative Bill 647 aims to “prohibit Nebraska courts from using foreign laws in decisions.” If passed, it will have to be voted on by Nebraska voters in 2011 because it is a constitutional amendment.
SOUTH CAROLINA: In South Carolina, Sen. Mike Fair (R) has introduced a bill to ban the implementation of sharia law, saying there is “a need to clarify that cultural customs or foreign laws don’t trump U.S. laws.” More here.
– TEXAS: State Rep. Leo Berman (R) introduced a constitutional amendment “prohibiting a court of this state from enforcing, considering or applying a religious or cultural law.” If the legislature passes the amendment, it will appear on the November 2011 ballot for Texas voters to approve.
– SOUTH DAKOTA: HRJ 1004l that no court “may apply international law, the law of any foreign nation, or any foreign religious or moral code with the force of law in the adjudication of any case under its jurisdiction.”
– WYOMING: State Rep. Gerald Gay (R) says his bill banning sharia law is “a ‘pre-emptive strike...”
In Utah, Rep. Carl Wimmer (R) withdrew his bill that would have banned sharia and foreign law.
Update 2/24/11: Bill introduced in Tennessee to ban sharia law. Also see SB 1023
Update 3/02/11: Missouri (HB 708) and Oklahoma (HB 1522) have introduced bills to ban foreign laws from court consideration.
Update 3/03/11: Florida bill filed to ban foreign law from state courts. SB 1294
Update 3/04/11: Alabama's SB62, filed Tuesday will ban foreign laws from consideration in state court.
Update 3/15/11: Missouri House of Represetatives enter legislation to add a constitutional amendment to ban foreign and/or sharia law HJR 31
That's 17 states.
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