Case: 1:15-cv-00444 Document #: 24 Filed: 05/08/15 Page 1 of 3 PageID #:212
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION ILLINOIS BIBLE COLLEGES ASSOCIATION, et al., Plaintiffs, v. LINDSAY K. H. ANDERSON, Chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Defendant.
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No. 15 C 444 Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman
MOTION TO DISMISS The defendant, Lindsay K. H. Anderson, by her attorney, Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of Illinois, moves the Court, pursuant to Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to dismiss the First Amended Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (as to some claims) and for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. In support of this motion, defendant states as follows: 1. Plaintiffs are a number of Bible colleges, an association of Bible colleges, a student at a Bible college, and an organization supporting the claims of the Bible colleges. Plaintiffs challenge several Illinois statutes, the Private College Act, 110 ILCS 1005/0.01 et seq., and the Academic Degree Act, 110 ILCS 1010/0.01 et seq., both of which regulate the operations of certain postsecondary educational institutions, and the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act, 105 ILCS 426/1 et seq., which regulates the operations of business and vocational schools. 2. These statutes are administered by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, whose Chair,
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Lindsay K. H. Anderson, is the named defendant. 2. Plaintiffs allege that the challenged statutes violate various constitutional provisions: the Establishment Clause, the Free Exercise Clause, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and equal protection. Plaintiffs also raise claims under the Illinois Constitution and the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 775 ILCS 35/5 et seq. 3. The Eleventh Amendment bars this Court from consideration of the state law claims (based on the Illinois Constitution and the Illinois RFRA). The Eleventh Amendment prevents a federal court from ordering a state official to comply with state law. 4. The challenged statutes do not violate the Establishment Clause, because the laws serve a valid secular purpose of insuring that educational institutions, their programs and faculty, and their degree granting practices are legitimate, as evaluated by secular, not religious, criteria. The laws’ effect neither inhibits nor advances religion, nor do they excessive entangle the state in matters of religion. 5. The challenged statutes do not violate the Free Exercise Clause. They are neutral laws of general applicability which advance valid secular interests. 6. The challenged statutes do not violate free speech or freedom of association. State oversight to insure the validity of degrees and the integrity of institutions and schools does not infringe the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights of speech or association.. 7. The challenged statutes, and the categories of schools they regulate, are rationally related to legitimate state interests, and do not violate principle of equal protection. 8. The Private Business and Vocational School Act contains an exemption for programs of study devoted entirely to religion or theology. Plaintiffs seek a broader exemption, for programs 2
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that may relate to secular subjects but which incorporate significant religious or faith based instruction. The First Amendment does not require the state to offer this broader exemption. Secular subjects can be subject to state regulation. Defendant requests that the complaint be dismissed. A memorandum of law is submitted in support of this motion. Respectfully submitted, LISA MADIGAN Attorney General of Illinois
/s/ Thomas A. Ioppolo THOMAS A. IOPPOLO MICHAEL T. DIERKES Assistant Attorney General General Law Bureau 100 W. Randolph St., 13th Fl. Chicago, Illinois 60601 (312) 814-7198
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