In addition to my interests related to the theme of this blog, I have a number of ongoing projects related to American direct democracy. Thus, I will be following with interest the recent developments in Oklahoma. According to the Economist, “… Rex Duncan, a Republican member of Oklahoma’s House of Representatives has just had a measure placed on the November ballot that would ban local courts from considering sharia, or Islamic law, in their judgments.” Proponents of the measure have dubbed it the “Save our State” amendment. State Question Number 755 will ask voters to amend Section 1 of Article VII of the state Constitution to require the state courts to rely only on federal and state law when deciding cases. It forbids courts from considering or using Sharia law.
Suffice to say, the Economist was less than impressed with actions of the Oklahoma Legislature. Indeed, I have reviewed virtually every ballot initiative across every State for the past thirty years and would say even in the demagoguery laden world of American direct democracy that this represents some sort of a low point.