Legal Experts Analyze the Impact of the Dover Intelligent Design Trial Decision

Evolutionnews.org ^ | March 23. 2006 | Discovery Institute

[balch3]

Traipsing Into Evolution is the first published critique of federal Judge John E. Jones's decision in the Kitzmiller v. Dover case, the foremost trial to attempt to address the constitutionality of teaching intelligent design. In this concise yet comprehensive response, Discovery Institute scholars and attorneys expose how Judge Jones's Kitzmiller decision was based upon faulty reasoning, non-existent evidence, and an elementary misunderstanding of intelligent design theory.

Despite Jones's protestations to the contrary, his attempts to use the federal bench to declare evolution a sacred cow--unquestionable in schools and fundamentally compatible with all "true" religion--are exposed by these critical authors as a textbook case of good-old-American judicial activism.

“The Dover trial was hardly the final word in the debate over evolution,” says attorney Casey Luskin, a co-author of the new book Traipsing Into Evolution: Intelligent Design and the Kitzmiller vs. Dover Decision(DI Press 2006). “Mark Twain once allegedly refuted his own obituary proclaiming that ‘the report of my death was an exaggeration.' Traipsing Into Evolution disproves similar exaggerated reports from Darwinists about intelligent design in the wake of the Kitzmiller v. Dover decision.”

The authors conclude that the Judge’s ruling will have “teachers seeking to ‘teach the controversy’ over Darwinian evolution in today’s climate will likely be met with false warnings that it is unconstitutional to say anything negative about Darwinian evolution.”

“The impact of this ruling is that even students who ask critical questions about Darwinism, or about intelligent design theory will scare administrators’ about whether that puts the school in constitutional jeopardy,” said Luskin. “There’s already been a negative chilling effect on open inquiry in places such as Ohio and South Carolina. Judge Jones’ message is clear: give Darwin only praise, or else face the wrath of the judiciary.”

The book is priced at $14.95 and is available at bookstores throughout the country and online at Amazon.com. It also can be ordered directly by calling 800-643-4102. Review copies are available by contacting the publisher at cscinfo@discovery.org.

“The mainstream science establishment and the courts tell us, in censorious tones that sometimes sound a bit desperate, that intelligent design is just a lot of fundamentalist cant. It's not,” said Steven D. Smith, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law, University of San Diego and author of "Law's Quandary" (Harvard University Press, 2004). “We've heard the Darwinist story, and we owe it to ourselves to hear the other side. Traipsing Into Evolution is that other side.”

The book was written by David K. DeWolf, professor of law at Gonzaga University, Dr. John G. West associate professor and chair of the political science department at Seattle Pacific University, Casey Luskin, attorney and program officer for public policy and legal affairs at Discovery Institute, and Dr. Jonathan Witt a senior fellow and writer in residence at Discovery Institute.

Traipsing Into Evolution is part of a series published by Discovery Institute Press. Previous books include Are We Spiritual Machines?: Ray Kurzweil vs. The Critics of Strong A.I. by Jay W.Richards et. al., Getting the Facts Straight: A Viewer’s Guide to PBS’s Evolution by the Discovery Institute, and Why Is a Fly Not a Horse? by Italian geneticist Giuseppe Sermonti, published in 2005.

Chapters in Traipsing Into Evolution look at: Kitzmiller’s Partisan History of Intelligent Design; Kitzmiller’s Unpersuasive Case Against the Scientific Status of Intelligent Design; Kitzmiller’s Failure to Treat Religion in a Neutral Manner; Kitzmiller’s Limited Value as Precedent; and The Need for Academic Freedom.

The book also includes a lengthy response to the ruling from Dr. Michael Behe, entitled “Whether ID is Science: Michael Behe’s Response to Kitzmiller v. Dover.” Dr. Behe was the lead expert witness for the defense at the trial.

[balch3]

It wouldn't let me post the whole titie, which is:

Legal Experts Analyze the Impact of the Dover Intelligent Design Trial Decision in the New Book, “Traipsing Into Evolution."

[AntiGuv]

“The impact of this ruling is that even students who ask critical questions about Darwinism, or about intelligent design theory will scare administrators’ about whether that puts the school in constitutional jeopardy,” said Luskin.

Hmm.. It seems to me that, whereas an idiotic line like this might at-first-glance seem like a good idea, because it's got that whole melodramatic flair that whips up the faithful, in the end result it's actually counterproductive.

See, take someone like me for example. I am so not predisposed to bother with ID nonsense that it's an achievement that I'd read even that far. And, were it not for that idiotic line, I planned to finish reading the rest. But then, I get to that line, and the stupidity is just so totally overwhelming, that not only do I stop reading, but even what I'd already read is now out-of-mind.

Just an idle observation about the whole PR angle to this. Don't be stuck on stupid!

[Oztrich Boy]

In this concise yet comprehensive response, Discovery Institute scholars and attorneys expose how Judge Jones's Kitzmiller decision was based upon faulty reasoning, non-existent evidence, and an elementary misunderstanding of intelligent design theory.

Sounds like they are really confident of winning on appeal.

[msnimje]

No posting tities here!!

[shuckmaster]

“There’s already been a negative chilling effect on open inquiry in places such as Ohio and South Carolina. Judge Jones’ message is clear: give Darwin only praise, or else face the wrath of the judiciary.”

As well it should! Charlatan pseudo scientists with a perverted agenda to destroy legitimate science study are running into a judicial brick wall with the so called intelligent design farce.

[dread78645]

"Traipsing Into Stupid" ping

[PatrickHenry]

Yeah. Promotional thread for a creationist book review. Not for the evolution ping list.

[wallcrawlr]

“The impact of this ruling is that even students who ask critical questions about Darwinism, or about intelligent design theory will scare administrators’ about whether that puts the school in constitutional jeopardy,” said Luskin. “There’s already been a negative chilling effect on open inquiry in places such as Ohio and South Carolina.Judge Jones’ message is clear: give Darwin only praise, or else face the wrath of the judiciary.”

^{Revelation 4:11}Intelligent Design
Constantly searching for objectivity in the evolution debate...
See my profile for info

[connectthedots]

As you know, there was no appeal. No appeal, no precedent; not even within the same US District.

[CIDKauf]

One of my favorite responses to seperation of church and state arguements is the Bible teaches in James 1:27 to take care of widows and orphans, which religious people have been doing for centuries prior to the US Constitution being written, and due to the "seperation of church and state" arguement, the entire Social Security system is unconstitutional. (from End the Wall)