"People hear stories like this and they want to know what's the big deal?" said Agema, R-Grandville. "The big deal is that we are a nation governed by a constitution and the second any law outside our own is allowed in our courts, the erosion of our foundation has begun. The judge's behavior in Florida sets a dangerous precedent for our courts and muddies the waters of case law in this country."

            The Florida circuit court judge hearing the case ruled in March that "under ecclesiastical law" and in accordance with the teachings of the Koran, the two parties should attempt to resolve the dispute among themselves. The issue is still in the Florida courts.

            "American judges have no business allowing or trying to interpret the meaning and intent of any foreign law," Agema said. "In this particular case it was sharia law but that's not the only type of foreign law forcing its way into our courtrooms, and this is exactly the reason HB 4769 must be enacted in Michigan.”