At issue Wednesday was whether the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board acted constitutionally when it twice denied Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School’s request to open and operate using taxpayer funds. Their attorneys told a federal judge on Wednesday that the Oklahoma Supreme Court decision violated the free exercise the school’s religion. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the Oklahoma Catholic charter school case last year with Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused. The remaining justices split 4-4 on the case, which allowed the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling to stand. Russell, the federal judge, acknowledged the public or private nature of a charter school is a core issue to the case.