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The Boy Scouts just won a stunning victory against the ACLU, in defense of the Scouts’ honoring of God.  A 3-0 ruling of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the federal government can continue to sponsor the national Jamboree event of the Scouts.  ''Winkler v. Gates'', 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 7677 (7th Cir. Apr. 4, 2007).

The [[Boy Scouts]] just won a stunning victory against the [[ACLU]], in defense of the Scouts’ honoring of God.  A 3-0 ruling of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the federal government can continue to sponsor the national Jamboree event of the Scouts.  ''Winkler v. Gates'', 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 7677 (7th Cir. Apr. 4, 2007).

Every four years for 70 years, the United States government has sponsored on military property a Jamboree for tens of thousands of Boy Scouts.  The Boy Scouts are perhaps the largest voluntary youth group in America, and many future Scouts serve our nation in the military and in public office.

Every four years for 70 years, the [[United States]] [[government]] has sponsored on military property a Jamboree for tens of thousands of [[Boy Scouts]].  The [[Boy Scouts]] are perhaps the largest voluntary youth group in America, and many future Scouts serve our nation in the military and in public office.

Seven Presidents have attended the Jamboree since 1937, beginning with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.  This event lasts ten days and attracts over 40,000 Boy Scouts and about 300,000 visitors.  The 2010 Jamboree will commemorate the Boy Scouts' 100th anniversary in America.

Seven Presidents have attended the Jamboree since 1937, beginning with President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].  This event lasts ten days and attracts over 40,000 Boy Scouts and about 300,000 visitors.  The 2010 Jamboree will commemorate the Boy Scouts' 100th anniversary in America.

But the ACLU demanded that a court prohibit this.  An ACLU group in Chicago argued that the Boy Scouts is a religious organization, and that the federal government violates the Establishment Clause by sponsoring an event for a religious organization.  A few months before the scheduled 2005 Jamboree, the ACLU persuaded a federal judge to prohibit the government sponsorship, though the judge did make an exception to allow the Jamboree to go forward in Virginia that year.

But the [[ACLU]] demanded that a court prohibit this.  An [[ACLU]] group in Chicago argued that the Boy Scouts is a religious organization, and that the federal government violates the [[Establishment Clause]] by sponsoring an event for a religious organization.  A few months before the scheduled 2005 Jamboree, the [[ACLU]] persuaded a federal judge to prohibit the government sponsorship, though the judge did make an exception to allow the Jamboree to go forward in [[Virginia]] that year.

The government appealed this decision to the Seventh Circuit, where there have been numerous other Establishment Clause cases.  This time the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of government and the Boy Scouts, and ordered that the ACLU's lawsuit be dismissed.

The government appealed this decision to the [[Seventh Circuit]], where there have been numerous other [[Establishment Clause]] cases.  This time the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of government and the [[Boy Scouts]], and ordered that the [[ACLU]]'s lawsuit be dismissed.

The Seventh Circuit panel consisted of Clinton-appointed Judge Diane Wood, the conservative Judge Diane Sykes, and Nixon-appointed Judge William Bauer.  Judge Sykes did not give an inch to the ACLU in this case, and her strongly conservative concurrence may have helped pull the entire panel to the right.

The Seventh Circuit panel consisted of Clinton-appointed Judge Diane Wood, the conservative Judge Diane Sykes, and Nixon-appointed Judge William Bauer.  Judge Sykes did not give an inch to the ACLU in this case, and her strongly conservative concurrence may have helped pull the entire panel to the right.