A lawyer for a Roman Catholic school has argued that Michigan courts have no authority to intervene in admissions decisions.
The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a dispute over whether a family can sue Notre Dame Preparatory School over its decision to reject their daughter in 2014.
Her parents say the Pontiac school discriminated against her because of a learning disability. Notre Dame Prep denies any discrimination. But attorney James Walsh's main argument was much broader.
He says government can't tell a church how to fill its pews or get tangled in admissions at a religious school.
But the girl's lawyer, Nicholas Roumel, says the lawsuit makes no mention of religion. He urged justices to evaluate it purely as a case of discrimination under Michigan law.
