The religious liberty case was filed by Joseph Kennedy, a high school assistant football coach who was placed on administrative leave by the school district in 2015.
Kennedy and religious freedom advocates argued that the coach was free to pray. The school district told the justices that Kennedy's actions were coercive and the parents of the players complained.
The majority of the opinion was supported by all the court's Republican appointees.
The First Amendment protects Mr. Kennedy's expression. There is no need for the government to single out private religious speech for special treatment under the amendment. The best of our traditions advise mutual respect and tolerance for both religious and non religious views.
Several photos of the Kennedys on-field prayers were included in the dissent, which was joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer.
The religious rights of a school official who voluntarily accepted public employment and the limits that public employment entails, over those of his students, who are required to attend school, are particularly vulnerable and deserving of protection.
The court's conservative justices expressed concern over the school district's intrusion on Kennedy's religious practice. The justices focused on the possibility of being coerced. They wondered if Kennedy's prayers interfered with the religious rights of public school students and their parents.
The portion of the opinion that said the coach's actions didn't amount to coercion was not signed on by the justice. He joined the ruling against the school system but did not elaborate on his views.
Kennedy was celebrating his victory Monday.
I just can't stop smiling and thanking everyone who supported me. Kennedy told Fox News after the decision that he was not insane. The First Amendment is alive and well.
He said that he would return to the Washington state school soon.
The district promised to put the fight behind it.
The law required us to protect the religious freedom of students and their families. In light of the court's decision, we will work with our attorneys to make sure that the school district remains welcoming and inclusive. The statement said that they were looking forward to moving past the legal battle so that the school community could focus on educating their children.
The case was heard at the high court. Kennedy did not prove that his prayer ritual was the reason for the school suspending him.
The decision on the coach's case was one of three released Monday. There are four cases left to be decided before the summer ends, including one about the powers of federal regulatory agencies and another in a case challenging President Joe Biden's effort to end former President Donald Trump's policy requiring most asylum applicants at the U.S.-Mexico border to register
Olander made a contribution to the report.
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