Doubt it. The senators from PA are Specter and Santorum; he would have been suggested by them. Neither is hard core religious right. He was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. His role as District Court judge is to assemble a factual record, and render a verdict based on the law. The case law here is clear, and he's given the plaintiffs a lot of latitude in introducing evidence. I was quite surprised he admitted testimony about Philip Johnson's statements on ID being an excuse to bring God into the classroom.
He'll issue a narrow, safe verdict based on precedent, finding for the plaintiffs, and the case will go to appeal, maybe, if Thomas More doesn't decide to cut their losses.
I recall that Santorum slipped something strange into the "No student left behind" bill. Something about creationism. I may be remembering it all wrong.
That does seem like a rookie mistake for a lawyer. Smart of him to avoid the trial.
Really? Doesn't surprise me. The school board wasn't acting in a vacuum. The environment and ecology of ID is very relevant.