The Supreme Court ruled the free exercise and free speech clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in religious expression.
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a former football coach for a high school in western Washington who 6-3 along ideological lines that the free exercise and free speech clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in religious expression. Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the opinion for the majority in the case, known as Kennedy v. Bremerton School District.
The court fight involving Kennedy's postgame prayers at midfield attracted a bevy of friend-of-the-court briefs, including from former NFL players and professional and collegiate athletes who came down on both sides of the debate. Kennedy first began praying after football games in August 2008 following his first game as coach of the Bremerton Knights. While his praying first began with the coach, alone, briefly thanking God after the final whistle, players soon began to join Kennedy after games, with participation varying from week-to-week. At least one parent said his son"felt compelled to participate" out of fear he would lose playing time.
But the observation sparked a yearslong battle between Kennedy and the school district, with the coach arguing he was engaging in constitutionally protected religious expression, and defenders of the school district claiming the coach was acting as an agent of the state who, as a public school employee, violated the religious freedom of students who felt pressure to pray.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'This court has lost legitimacy': Warren calls for Supreme Court expansionElizabeth Warren calls for Supreme Court expansion: 'This court has lost legitimacy. ... They just took the last of it and set a torch to it with the Roe v. Wade opinion.'
Read more »
Supreme Court Sides With Coach Who Sought To Pray After GameThe court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines for the coach. The justices said the coach's prayer was protected by the First Amendment.
Read more »
Supreme Court sides with coach who sought to pray after gamesThe Supreme Court has sided with a football coach from Washington state who sought to kneel and pray on the field after games.
Read more »
Supreme Court Sides With HS Coach Who Sought to Pray After GamesThe case forced the justices to wrestle with how to balance the religious and free speech rights of teachers and coaches with the rights of students not to feel pressured into participating in religious practices
Read more »
Supreme Court sides with Bremerton football coach who wanted to pray on the fieldThe Supreme Court said Monday that it has sided with the former Bremerton, Washington football coach who wanted to pray on the field.
Read more »
Supreme Court sides with coach who sought to pray after gameThe Supreme Court is siding with a football coach from Washington state who sought to kneel and pray on the field after games.
Read more »