The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Christian Coach

On Monday, the Supreme Court sided with a high school football coach who kneeled and prayed on the 50-yard line after public high school football games in the Kennedy vs Bremerton School District case. 

Back in 2016, Coach Joseph Kennedy lost his job as a football coach for the Bremerton School District in Bremerton, Washington after he knelt at midfield after games to pray. Kennedy sued the school district because their actions violated the First Amendment’s freedom of religion and freedom of speech clauses. 

The court’s vote was 6 to 3, with the liberal members as the minority. This vote comes days after the overturn of Roe vs Wade and less than a week after Carson vs Makin, which states that the State of Maine could not exclude religious schools from state tuition programs. 

The so-called “Supreme Court” just ruled 6-3 that public school teachers can now lead students in prayer.

In case anyone was wondering what’s happening here.

— Jo 🌻 (@JoJoFromJerz) June 27, 2022

Justice Neil Gorsuch, spoke for the majority, as he sided with Coach Kennedy, saying his actions are protected by the First Amendment. 

“A government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech clauses of the First Amendment,” writes Justice Gorsuch. 

According to Vox, Coach Kennedy has engaged in very public prayer throughout his coaching career. At first, Kennedy would walk alone to the 50-yard line and pray alone. A few games into the season, the majority of his players started joining him. In some cases, players felt obligated to particulate because they feared they “wouldn’t get to play as much,” a parent who complained to the school district told Vox. 

People watch Scotus for Joe Kennedy VS Bremerton school district. He forced prayer on his Football players. The district worked w/ him on policy but he remained defiant & was fired. If they side with him any teacher can shove their religion down your child’s throat

— c.anne Reed (@24baseballReed) April 25, 2022

Kennedy vs Bremerton School District violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which “prohibits the government from making any law ‘respecting an establishment of religion.'”

Religious freedom & the freedom to worship have been preserved. Coach Kennedy defended a foundational principle of our great nation – the right to worship freely. I was proud to join the amicus brief from Members of Congress in support of Coach Kennedy before the Supreme Court. https://t.co/dn6k4MpjPv

— Congressman Michael Guest (@RepMichaelGuest) June 27, 2022

Joe Kennedy, a HS football coach, was fired for refusing to stop kneeling in prayer after games. I applaud the SCOTUS for affirming our 1st Amendment right to freely practice religion. Today’s judicious ruling is a great victory for Americans of all faiths.https://t.co/kYrNRjNE8g

— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) June 27, 2022

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the First Hispanic woman of the Supreme Court, spoke for the dissenting opinion. 

“Today’s decision is particularly misguided because it elevates the religious rights of a school official who voluntarily accepted public employment and the limits that public employment entails,” Justice Sotomayor writes. “Students who are required to attend school and who this Court has long recognized are particularly vulnerable and deserve protection.” 

Justice John Roberts Jr, Justice Thomas Clarence, Justice Sam Alito, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Justice Gorsuch’s majority opinion, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan, and Justice Stephen Breyer dissented the court’s decision. Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the majority opinion but disagreed with parts of the decision.

Regardless of which side of the issue you fall on, it is safe to say that a momentous decision has been made that will affect legal precedent going forward. Watch the video below for a breakdown of the Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case.