Wiccans & Christians Vs. Halloween

Episode: 2x06 [Witches Of Mass Destruction]
Clients: Grace and Bob Mathias and Evelyn and Sam Sawtelle
Case: The clients sued to stop their children's public school from holding a Halloween pageant.
CP&S Representation: Shirley Schmidt and Denise Bauer
Opposing Counsel: Attorney Morrison
Presiding: Judge Paul Resnick
Result: Judge Resnick denied the motion to stop the Halloween pageant.
Notes:

• Grace and Bob Mathias objected to the pageant because they felt it promoted a religion (Satan-worshipping) in a public school.
• Evelyn and Sam Sawtelle opposed it because, as Wiccans, they objected to the caricatures of their religion depicted on Halloween.
• Shirley's closing argument:

The first amendment says we shouldn’t discriminate against any group on the basis of religion. It’s a nice theory. But the truth is the law is rarely applied to protect the Christian faith because being in the majority; well I guess we feel they can take it. And if the religion is too far out there, Christian Scientists sure, Scientologists maybe. Wiccans? Well. At what point does a religion become silly enough that it’s okay to make fun of them? And who decides? What this case is really about is tolerance. Whether it’s Hindus attacking Jews, or Muslims against Catholics, Christians fighting with Wiccans. The aim of the law is tolerance. And I could be wrong but I don’t think we ever ratified persecution under the heading of fun. Let me read you something by Martin Niemoler, a German pastor who opposed the Nazis: 'In Germany they came first for the communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionist and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak up.'"

• Judge Resnick's summary: "We’re dealing here with a pageant in a public school. A public school can’t promote the exercise of any religion and it can’t denigrate followers of any religion. No one should take that lightly. And indeed, Christians, witches and other groups have been persecuted over the years. And no one should take persecution lightly. But we should take Halloween lightly. As the defense pointed out Halloween is secular holiday. More importantly it’s a silly holiday. Children don’t see a witch as a symbol of any sort. A witch is just something to enjoy being afraid of. Motion by the plaintiffs is denied. The Halloween Pageant will go on as it always has. And I advise both parties to lighten up and remember what Halloween really is all about: the candy! Court adjourned."

(I would be remiss to omit a note of thanks to Imamess for her invaluable transcription of this episode and numerous others)