Date Created:
Year Created: 2000
Description:
A Texas school district allowed student-led prayers to be broadcast over the loudspeaker before high school football games. Using the pseudonym "Doe," two families sued the school district, arguing that the practice violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by promoting religion in a public school setting. The school district defended the policy, claiming the prayers were private speech, not government-endorsed.
Question: 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?
Decision: In a 6-3 decision, the Court held that the District's policy permitting student-led prayers at football games violates the Establishment Clause. The Court concluded that the football game prayers were public speech authorized by a government policy and taking place on government property at government-sponsored school-related events and that the District's policy involved both perceived and actual government endorsement of the delivery of prayer at important school events.
Categories of Documents:
Citation:
"Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe." Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/1999/99-62. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.