Religion & Law

Forsyth Saga: N.C. Challenge To Government Prayer Reaches Appeals Court
A courtroom in Richmond, Va., will be the site of a church-state showdown on Thursday. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in an important case dealing with official prayer before government bodies...

4th Circuit Oral Arguments In County Commissioners' Prayer Case Now Available
The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals now has posted online a recording of the oral arguments in Joyner v. Forsyth County, North Carolina. In the case, a federal district court ruled that the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners' invocation policy, as implemented, violates the Establishment Clause because they advance one particular faith and have the effect of affiliating the Board with that faith...

Forsyth County Commissioners Will Appeal Prayer Ruling To 4th Circuit
The Winston-Salem Journal reports that Forsyth County, North Carolina's Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 last night to appeal a federal district court decision (see prior posting) holding that, as implemented, its policy of beginning meetings with prayers violates the Establishment Clause...

"Sandra Day O'Connor Hears Fredericksburg Prayer Case"
"Sandra Day O'Connor Hears Fredericksburg Prayer Case": The Washington Post provides a news update that begins, "Retired Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor joined a federal appeals court panel that heard the case of a Fredericksburg City Council member who sued the city after he was barred from invoking the name of Jesus in a council prayer...

O'Connor Hears Legislative Prayer Case
Sandra Day O'Connor may be retired as a Supreme Court justice, but she's stayed busy by riding circuit and sitting as an appeals court justice around the country. She's on a 4th circuit panel at the moment hearing an interesting legislative prayer case...

Citizens of Forsyth County Win Lawsuit Challenging the Use of Sectarian Invocations to Open County Commissioners' Meetings
U.S. District Court Judge Upholds Magistrate's Recommendation That County Prayer Policy Is Unconstitutional Endorsement of Religion FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  CONTACT: media@aclu...

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