Kennedy v. Bremerton School District
The Conclusion
**Supreme Court held 6-3 that a public school coach's private prayer at midfield was personal religious expression protected by the Free Exercise Clause and could not be suppressed to avoid the appearance of government endorsement.** The decision marked a significant shift in Establishment Clause jurisprudence, retiring the Lemon test in favor of a historical-practices framework.
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Case Analysis
Overview
Joseph Kennedy was a public high school football coach in Washington state who knelt in prayer on the 50-yard line after games. A practice that sometimes drew players and community members to join him. The school district told him to stop, citing Establishment Clause obligations; he refused and was eventually let go. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in June 2022 that Kennedy's prayers were personal religious expression protected by Free Exercise Clause, and schools couldn't silence private speech to avoid the appearance of government endorsement. The decision retired the Lemon test in favor of historical-practices analysis.
Conclusion
**Supreme Court held 6-3 that a public school coach's private prayer at midfield was personal religious expression protected by the Free Exercise Clause and could not be suppressed to avoid the appearance of government endorsement.** The decision marked a significant shift in Establishment Clause jurisprudence, retiring the Lemon test in favor of a historical-practices framework.
Notes
OT2021. Added via SCOTUS bulk import 2026-05-14
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