Although there is no record of Islamic law ever being used in a court case in Oklahoma, voters last week approved an amendment to the state constitution that bans the application of Sharia law by judges when deciding cases. The new law also bans the consideration of international law in court.

 

But some legal experts say that because of the wording of the law, Oklahomans also may have blocked the use of the Ten Commandments in legal decisions.

 

Rick Tepker, a University of Oklahoma law professor, told CNN. “I would like to see Oklahoma politicians explain if this means that the courts can no longer consider the Ten Commandments. Isn’t that a precept of another culture and another nation?  The result of this is that judges aren’t going to know when and how they can look at sources of American law that were international law in origin.”

 

At the request of opponents of the law, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction preventing it from going into effect, until a full hearing can be held on November 22.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Law Professor: Ban on Sharia Law 'a Mess' (CNN)

Oklahoma May Have Banned Use of Ten Commandments Along with Sharia Law (by David Edwards, Raw Story)