Football Coach Fired for Praying Gets His Day at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will rule on fair play or foul in the case of coach Joe Kennedy after both legal teams presented their arguments on Monday.

Kennedy told reporters outside the Supreme Court that it was important for him to be heard on the facts of the case.

Kennedy, 52, says it has been a long haul, but he is optimistic that the high court will rule on exactly what the facts are and apply the law.

The case will be heard by the Supreme Court in January. There is an issue of whether a public school employee, such as a football coach, can pray in view of students.

Kennedy lost his job as an assistant football coach at Bremerton High School after taking a knee in prayer on the 50-yard line after a game.

After every game, the Marine veteran made it his practice to thank God in the center of the field.

Kennedy told The Daily Signal during an exclusive interview last month that he had a covenant with God when he accepted the job.

Some players began praying with Kennedy after games. Kennedy was asked to stop praying with players by the school district. Kennedy told The Daily Signal that he never prayed with the kids again.

Kennedy continued to kneel in prayer on the 50-yard line after the games. Kennedy was told by the school district that he couldn't pray in front of students and game attendees.

Kennedy told The Daily SIgnal that when he was told he had to choose between his faith and his job, he stood up and fought.

Kennedy's contract was not renewed by the school district after he was placed on administrative leave. The coach decided to take legal action.

Over the past seven football seasons, Kennedy's case has risen through the courts.

Kennedy and his attorneys with First Liberty appealed to the Supreme Court after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the school district. The justices heard arguments.

Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel, president, and CEO of First Liberty, told The Daily Signal that government employees still have a right to live.

The justices took our claims very seriously, according to Paul Clement, an attorney who argued Kennedy's case.

Clement said that Kennedy has sacrificed that for the last six or seven years. He had to sacrifice something in order to vindicate his right to free speech and religious exercise.

An attorney who is vice president and legal director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State represented the Bremerton School District before the high court. The district acted constitutionally according to the argument made by Katskee.

The public school district here respected the rights and religious freedom of its students, according to The Daily Signal.

The schools are supposed to be open and welcoming.

He said that the school district made sure that children weren't coerced to practice a religion that was against their own beliefs.

The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision in the case in June.

The First Amendment will be restored by the end of June, Shackelford said.

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