Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe

SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT v.DOE, individually and as next friend forher minor children, et al.certiorari to the united states court of appeals forthe fifth circuitNo. 99–62. Argued March 29, 2000—Decided June 19, 2000
Citation: Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000)
Facts
The students at Santa Fe, Texas, would be elected by their classmates where they would before the games started, offer a prayer during the high school football games. The pre-games prayers would be conducted over the public address system. It is for this reason that a number of the students at the Santa Fe school sued. In their argument, the prayers or the solemnizing statements given before the games constituted a violation of the Establishment Clause, as they brought about endorsement of religion to the entire school fraternity despite their diverse religious beliefs. The clause prevents the government or its institutions from establishing any official religion. In this case the respondents moved to obtain a temporary restraining order, which would prevent the Santa Fe Independent School District, the petitioner, from the violation of the Establishment Clause, by imposing religious practices on the school fraternity. At the District Court, it was held that the actions of the school in allowing prayers to be held during the school games did not in any way coerce the students into any form religious participation. The district also countered by indicating that the prayers were a long standing tradition. The district further stated that the prayers came from the student and, thus, did not make them state sponsored speeches but rather student speeches. At the Supreme Court of the United States, the case was granted writs.[. SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIST. V. DOE (99-62) 530 U.S. 290 (2000), 530 US 290 (2000) (1999).] [. SANTA FE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIST. V. DOE (99-62) 530 U....