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Keywords

appealcivil 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. The District Court upheld the town's practice, but the Second Circuit reversed, leading to an 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?

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 endorse a specific religion. The Court has held that the content of the prayer is not of concern to judges, as long as it does not promote or disparage any particular faith.

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, and the Court concluded that the town's practice did not violate the Establishment Clause as it did not coerce citizens into religious observance.

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.

Who won?

The town of Greece prevailed in the Supreme Court, which ruled that its practice of opening board meetings with prayer did not violate the Establishment Clause. The Court reasoned that the tradition of legislative prayer is deeply rooted in American history and that the prayers offered, while often Christian, did not coerce participation or endorse a specific religion. The Court emphasized that the practice was consistent with the historical understanding of the Establishment Clause.

The town of Greece prevailed in the Supreme Court, which ruled that its practice of opening board meetings with prayer did not violate the Establishment Clause.

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