In July of 2003, a policy requiring teachers to discuss the "scientific strengths and weaknesses" of evolution was proposed to the school board of the Roseville Joint Union High School District, by a parent named Larry Caldwell. The district's science teachers, administration, and finally the school board all rejected this policy, as well as antievolution supplemental teaching materials provided by Caldwell and others.

In January of 2005, Caldwell sued the district and certain of its administrators, claiming that he was unconstitutionally obstructed from promoting and discussing his educational policies, leading to the violation of his freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equal protection rights. Caldwell eventually amended his complaint four times, twice at the bidding of the court.

District Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. ultimately dismissed all of Caldwell's complaints, in two rulings issued on October 25, 2005 and September 7, 2007.

In the spring of 2005, NCSE's executive director Eugenie Scott wrote an article on creationist activity in California for the magazine California Wild. This article touched on Caldwell and the Roseville case, and Caldwell subsequently sued Dr. Scott and the NCSE for libel. However, he later withdrew this lawsuit without comment.

All the legal documentation available to us for Caldwell v. Roseville JUHSD et al. is provided at the bottom of this page. It is arranged in chronological order.

Related NCSE Articles

Attachment	Size
1/11/05: Original complaint	546.34 KB
1/18/05: First amended complaint	538.01 KB
2/18/05: Plaintiff's notice of association of counsel	84.92 KB
3/7/05: Second amended complaint	443.52 KB
4/20/05: Defendants' motion to dismiss	14.49 KB
4/20/05: Defendants' points and authorities in support of motion to dismiss	147.11 KB
6/24/05: Plaintiff's memorandum in opposition to motion to dismiss	411.39 KB
6/29/05: Plaintiff's amended memorandum in opposition to motion to dismiss	257.02 KB
6/30/05: Court order requiring new complaint	33.52 KB
7/28/05: Third amended complaint	175.21 KB
8/19/05: Defendants' new motion to dismiss	53.32 KB
8/19/05: Defendants' points and authorities in support of new motion to dismiss	278.22 KB
9/9/05: Plaintiff's memorandum in opposition to new motion to dismiss	246.15 KB
9/16/05: Defendants' reply brief on new motion to dismiss	182.6 KB
10/25/05: Court order and memorandum dismissing certain claims and requiring new complaint	112.67 KB
10/27/05: Fourth amended complaint	174.7 KB
12/1/05: Defendants' answer to fourth amended complaint	112.5 KB
6/21/05: Defendants' motion for summary judgment and points and authorities in support	2.63 MB
6/21/06: Defendants' second motion for summary judgment	2.63 MB
6/21/06: Defendants' motion for Rule 11 sanctions	934.63 KB
7/21/06: Plaintiff's memorandum opposing motions for summary judgment	154.69 KB
9/7/07: Court ruling and memorandum	145.48 KB