Rep. Anthony Sykes sponsored the bill. (Photo courtesy Oklahoma State Senate)

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by a district court judge last year prevents an amendment to Oklahoma's constitution from taking effect, which specifically cites international law or "sharia" law as illegal for courts to consider. The measure passed last year with 70 percent of the vote.

From The Los Angeles Times:

The appellate court opinion pointed out that proponents of the law admitted to not knowing of a single instance in which an Oklahoma court applied sharia law or the legal precepts of other countries.

"This serves as a reminder that these anti-sharia laws are unconstitutional and that if politicians use fear-mongering and bigotry, the courts won't allow it to last for long," said Muneer Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma. Awad sued to block the law, contending that it infringed on his 1st Amendment rights.

Proponents of the law argued that it was intended to ban courts from considering all religious laws and that sharia was simply used as an example. The appeals court, however, disagreed.

"That argument conflicts with the amendment's plain language, which mentions sharia law in two places," the court opinion read.

The bill was supported by two state representatives, Rex Duncan and Anthony Sykes, both Republicans. Sykes, the main proponent, said he thought "sharia" merges religion and law--something that should be kept out of the courts.

From CNN:

"The fact that Sharia law was even considered anywhere in the United States is enough for me" to sign on, Sykes told CNN last year. "It should scare anyone that any judge in America would consider using that as precedent."

Sykes said his concern was compounded by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan's comments during her confirmation hearings in June 2010 that she would be willing to consider international law when hearing cases before the court.

The case still has the potential to be heard at the federal appeals court level, and may proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court.