I hope that somebody helps the schoolboard appeal this to the Penn Supreme Court. Then it'd become a proper precedent that other states could not ignore.
Actually, a decision of a state supreme court is not binding on the courts of other states, and would not necessarily be any more persuasive than a federal district court decision.
The trial took place in the U.S. District Court (a federal court), so the appeal would actually go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (a federal appellate court). The Third Circuit covers PA, NJ, and a few other states that I forget at the moment. From there the losing party could petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
As others have pointed out, however, the newly constituted school board is unlikely to appeal the case.
However, Judge Jones' decision is very detailed, well-reasoned, and thorough. It may not be binding authority, but it will be very persuasive authority for any other court looking at a similar issue.
Hopefully it is also persuasive for any other school boards contemplating this issue, but I doubt it. People who think they're doing "God's word" are -- as Judge Jones anticipated -- going to dismiss his decision as the work of an activist liberal judge. (The fact that he is a GWB appointee whom Sen. Santorum and Sec. Ridge have applauded and who many Penn. Republicans saw as a future governor, will be ignored as well.)
On the other hand, a substantial attorneys fee award may help persuade any moderate trustees out there that this is not a smart fight for any responsible school board to risk its resources on.
