Ballot Measure Update: Oklahoma Safe From Sharia Law

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The state’s voters handily approve Prop 755:

State Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, authored State Question 755, which requires state courts to rely only on federal and state laws when deciding cases, and forbids courts to consider international law or Sharia law. It will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Duncan said he proposed the constitutional change because federal judges are increasingly embracing the idea that federal courts should look to international law to settle U.S. cases.

“I find that offensive,” he said.

As he looked into it, he said, he found some U.S. courts also are relying, to a lesser degree, on Sharia law, the Islamic law system.

He said he was unaware of any Oklahoma cases based on either international law or Sharia law.

“I would describe this as a pre-emptive strike,” he said. “We don’t want to let it get a toe-hold.”

(Via Marc Lynch)