Freedom of Religion

Santa Fe Independent School District

Does the Santa Fe Independent School District's policy permitting student-led, student-initiated prayer at football games violate the Establishment Clause? of the first Amendment?

Facts of Case

• A student lead a christian prayer over the loud speaker before each game
• One Mormon and one Catholic family filed suit challeging this pratice and others under the establishment clause of the first amendment

Facts of Case

• A student lead a christian prayer over the loud speaker before each game
• One Mormon and one Catholic family filed suit challeging this pratice and others under the establishment clause of the first amendment

The alleged voloation was that the prayers were volation of freedom of religon

Important details

• A student lead the prayer each time
• while awaiting trial students voted to pray and voted for two people to pray for them

lower courts decision

supreme court decision w/ vote count

majority opion

• it encurages pray and is not considered a 'private speech'

decending opionion

good law? your opionon

works cited