Another Religious Liberty Ruling from the Supreme Court

Coach Kennedy

• Joseph Kennedy is a high school football coach at a public school outside Seattle, Washington.
• One of Kennedy's game-time rituals was to pray after games on the 50-yard-line, which students on the team would join in on.
• The case weighed his right to free speech and free exercise of his faith against the ability of his employers to regulate speech, especially religious speech at schools.

Religion at the 50-yard-line

• Kennedy began the end-of-game prayer ritual when he started coaching at the high school in 2008 but was asked to stop by the school in 2015 when they became concerned that students would feel pressured to join the prayer. When Kennedy did not stop, they placed him on paid leave.
• In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled that Coach Kennedy's right to pray on the field was protected by the First Amendment, or the right to free speech.
• Coach Kennedy said of the decision, "This is just so awesome. All I've ever wanted was to be back on the field with my guys. I thank God for answering our prayers and sustaining my family through this long battle."

All on the field

• Justices Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor dissented, saying that the decision would complicate the delicate balance between church and state since the prayers were happening on public school grounds.
• The ruling could expand the scope of religious practices allowed in public schools.
• Conservative Justices, plus Justice Roberts, agreed in the majority opinion that the First Amendment protects Kennedy's right to pray on public school grounds while on the job.