March 28, 2024

Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

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Federal District Court Rules School District within Rights to Prohibit Coach from Praying after Games

Washington high school football coach Joe Kennedy’s legal battle forges on, with Federal District Court Judge Ronald Leighton ruling Thursday that it was within Bremerton School District’s rights to prohibit Kennedy from praying on the 50-yard line after games.

Kennedy and his legal team plan to appeal.

“We are disappointed in this decision, but we are undeterred in our mission to obtain justice for Coach Kennedy,” said Mike Berry, general counsel for First Liberty Institute. “For almost five long years Joe has had to miss coaching the game he loves. Joe has fought—first as a U.S. Marine, then as a coach—to prove that every American has the right to engage in individual religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of getting fired. He knows this fight isn’t over.”

In 2015, Kennedy was fired by Bremerton School District for kneeling on the 50-yard line after football games and silently praying for 15 to 20 seconds. Although players often participated, it was never mandatory.

“It was never a forced thing,” Kennedy said. “It was never even an asked thing.”

Kennedy sued in 2016, citing his right to religious expression under the First Amendment.

The school district argued that it has a right to restrict religious expression if it feels the expression creates an illusion of government endorsing religion.

Judge Leighton denied Kennedy’s request for an injunction in 2016, and in 2017 a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled against the coach.

Despite defeats in court, Kennedy’s case garnered nationwide media attention. In fact, President Trump invited Kennedy to the Oval Office in January 2019 as he announced new actions protecting prayer in U.S. public schools.

That same month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, stating that the Court needed more information.

But Justices Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh filed a separate statement expressing concern, writing, “The 9th Circuit’s understanding of the free speech rights of public school teachers is troubling and may justify review in the future.”

Even so, the case returned to the district court, prompting Thursday’s decision.

Yet Kennedy is not planning to stand down.

“We are prepared to take Coach Kennedy’s case to the 9th Circuit,” Berry said, “… and if we have to, we’ll appeal that to the Supreme Court. We’ve done it once, we’re happy to do it again.”

Kennedy
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Left Media Descends Into Panic As Homeschool Mom Runs For NC Superintendent

Obviously, the establishment was not pleased with Morrow referring to public schools as “indoctrination centers” and blasting them for brainwashing children with “socialism.” Voters, however, loved her honest approach, giving her an upset victory against an establishment bigwig who was expected to win easily. 

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Purim: Jewish Survival Isn’t Contingent On The World’s Hostility, But The Power Of God

Today, we have the same spirit of the annihilation of the Jews coming from the same part of the world. Modern Iranian leaders are obsessed with the spirit of Haman even today. We don’t need an Esther in the palace anymore. We need the prayers of the saints worldwide.

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Washington high school football coach Joe Kennedy’s legal battle forges on, with Federal District Court Judge Ronald Leighton ruling Thursday that it was within Bremerton School District’s rights to prohibit Kennedy from praying on the 50-yard line after games.

Kennedy and his legal team plan to appeal.

“We are disappointed in this decision, but we are undeterred in our mission to obtain justice for Coach Kennedy,” said Mike Berry, general counsel for First Liberty Institute. “For almost five long years Joe has had to miss coaching the game he loves. Joe has fought—first as a U.S. Marine, then as a coach—to prove that every American has the right to engage in individual religious expression, including praying in public, without fear of getting fired. He knows this fight isn’t over.”

In 2015, Kennedy was fired by Bremerton School District for kneeling on the 50-yard line after football games and silently praying for 15 to 20 seconds. Although players often participated, it was never mandatory.

“It was never a forced thing,” Kennedy said. “It was never even an asked thing.”

Kennedy sued in 2016, citing his right to religious expression under the First Amendment.

The school district argued that it has a right to restrict religious expression if it feels the expression creates an illusion of government endorsing religion.

Judge Leighton denied Kennedy’s request for an injunction in 2016, and in 2017 a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled against the coach.

Despite defeats in court, Kennedy’s case garnered nationwide media attention. In fact, President Trump invited Kennedy to the Oval Office in January 2019 as he announced new actions protecting prayer in U.S. public schools.

That same month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, stating that the Court needed more information.

But Justices Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh filed a separate statement expressing concern, writing, “The 9th Circuit’s understanding of the free speech rights of public school teachers is troubling and may justify review in the future.”

Even so, the case returned to the district court, prompting Thursday’s decision.

Yet Kennedy is not planning to stand down.

“We are prepared to take Coach Kennedy’s case to the 9th Circuit,” Berry said, “… and if we have to, we’ll appeal that to the Supreme Court. We’ve done it once, we’re happy to do it again.”

Kennedy
CLICK HERE FOR
SOURCE

Will You Help Reach People With Biblical Truth?

When you make a donation to this ministry you will be helping us reach more people with the sound and unashamed truth of God’s Word and how it speaks to our times through world news.

Are Fears Of A Global Food Crisis A Harbinger Of Things To Come?

The rider on this black horse holds a pair of scales in his hand—weighing out food on the scale. What we have here is the haunting phantom of famine along with runaway inflation. As we look around our world, we can already hear the thundering hoofbeats...

Left Media Descends Into Panic As Homeschool Mom Runs For NC Superintendent

Obviously, the establishment was not pleased with Morrow referring to public schools as “indoctrination centers” and blasting them for brainwashing children with “socialism.” Voters, however, loved her honest approach, giving her an upset victory against an establishment bigwig who was expected to win easily. 

untitled artwork 6391

Purim: Jewish Survival Isn’t Contingent On The World’s Hostility, But The Power Of God

Today, we have the same spirit of the annihilation of the Jews coming from the same part of the world. Modern Iranian leaders are obsessed with the spirit of Haman even today. We don’t need an Esther in the palace anymore. We need the prayers of the saints worldwide.

ABC's of Salvation

TV AD

worldview matters

Decision Magazine V AD

TV AD

Amir V Ad #1

Decision Magazine V AD