Legislative Prayer Tag

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Posted 05 May 2014 in Case Notes
The Supreme Court has released its decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway, 8468059167_e8ebfeedbf_zconcluding that the Town's prayer practice has a "permissible ceremonial purpose" and is "not an unconstitutional establishment of religion." Writing for the Court, Justice Kennedy ruled that the Town's prayer practice "fits within the tradition long followed in Congress and the state legislatures." Some highlights from his opinion:

Posted 19 Aug 2013 in Case Notes
[caption id="attachment_33" align="alignright" width="300"]The Supreme Court will evaluate local-government prayer practices this term. The Supreme Court will evaluate local-government prayer practices this term.[/caption] If your community starts its government meetings with a prayer, it might be violating the Constitution. In a case that the Supreme Court will consider in the coming term, Town of Greece v. Galloway, 12-696, the Court will decide whether a local government’s legislative prayer practice runs afoul of the Establishment Clause. The Second Circuit held that the Town of Greece’s prayer practice is unconstitutional because “an objective, reasonable person would believe [it] had the effect of affiliating the town with Christianity.”