(AP) – An Arkansas House committee has approved a bill that
would require state judges to use American-based laws when deciding cases,
rejecting concerns the legislation might be unconstitutional and complaints that
it targets Muslims.
The bill by Rep. Brandt Smith doesn’t mention Sharia law, which is used in
parts of the Islamic world, but the bill’s critics said Smith’s legislation
would improperly target religious tenets.
The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee on a voice vote Thursday.
Smith and a speaker from the Center for Security Policy said that, absent this
legislation, judges wouldn’t have guidance on how to settle cases with foreign
elements.
Rep. Bob Ballinger said, however, the bill does nothing, and others say it
could infringe on the judicial branch of government in violation of the state
constitution.
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