U.S. Supreme Court Bans School Christmas Songs; Refuses to Hear Case, Agrees with Appeals Court

"Silent Night" and other religious songs will remain off the program at holiday concerts in one New Jersey school district -- and probably throughout the country -- since the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of a school ban on religious holiday music.

By deciding on October 4, 2010 not to hear the case, the Supreme Court ended a six-year legal battle that started when parent Michael Stratechuk sued the School District of South Orange and Maplewood over a policy that barred religious songs at public concerts, according to the Religion News Service website.

The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ban last year.

The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case this week in effect upholds the decision of the Appeals Court.