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Keywords

lawsuitappealcivil rights

Related Cases

Town of Greece, N.Y. v. Galloway, 572 U.S. 565, 134 S.Ct. 1811, 188 L.Ed.2d 835, 82 USLW 4334, 14 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 4847, 2014 Daily Journal D.A.R. 5589, 24 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. S 736

Facts

Residents of Greece, New York, brought a civil rights action against the town, claiming that the practice of opening town board meetings with prayer violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. The town had been opening its meetings with prayers since 1999, inviting local clergy to deliver invocations. The residents argued that the prayers were predominantly Christian and thus favored one religion over others, which led to their lawsuit. The District Court upheld the town's practice, but the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision, prompting the town to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Since 1999, the monthly town board meetings in Greece, New York, have opened with a roll call, a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and a prayer given by clergy selected from the congregations listed in a local directory.

Issue

Does the town of Greece's practice of opening its board meetings with prayer violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?

Whether the town of Greece, New York, imposes an impermissible establishment of religion by opening its monthly board meetings with a prayer.

Rule

The Establishment Clause must be interpreted by reference to historical practices and understandings. Legislative prayer, while religious in nature, has long been understood as compatible with the Establishment Clause, provided it does not coerce participation or promote a specific faith. The Court has held that the content of the prayer is not of concern to judges, as long as it does not disparage other faiths or beliefs.

The Establishment Clause must be interpreted by reference to historical practices and understandings. U.S.C.A. Const.Amend. 1.

Analysis

The Supreme Court found that the town's practice of opening meetings with prayer fits within a long-standing tradition of legislative prayer in the United States. The Court emphasized that the prayers, while often invoking Christian themes, also included universal messages and did not compel participation from nonbelievers. The historical context of legislative prayer was deemed significant, as it has been a practice since the founding of the nation. The Court concluded that the town's approach did not violate the Establishment Clause, as it did not coerce citizens into religious observance.

The Court's inquiry, then, must be to determine whether the prayer practice in the town of Greece fits within the tradition long followed in Congress and the state legislatures.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuit's decision, holding that the town's practice of opening meetings with prayer does not violate the Establishment Clause.

The judgment is reversed.

Who won?

The town of Greece prevailed in this case, as the Supreme Court ruled that its practice of opening town board meetings with prayer did not violate the Establishment Clause. The Court emphasized the historical context of legislative prayer and concluded that the prayers, while often Christian, did not coerce participation or endorse a specific faith. The ruling underscored the importance of tradition in interpreting the Establishment Clause, allowing for a practice that has been part of American legislative history.

The town did not violate the First Amendment by opening its town board meetings with prayer that comported with the tradition of the United States.

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