The Bremerton Decision: What It Means for Prayer in Schools

The First Amendment protects the right to speak and/or petition the government, in addition to allowing people to assemble to organize around anything they desire. Crucially, though, it has been understood to protect the free exercise of religion.

When the government stops or hinders a person’s religious practice, then the Constitution has likely been violated. A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has further clarified that when a public employee’s exercise of their personal religion arguably conflicts with the First Amendment’s prohibition of the government establishing a religion, it is likely the employee’s exercise of their religion will win against a competing claim that the government (through the employee’s actions) might have established a religion. The First Amendment can be complicated, but Meriwether Law exists to help all persons realize their individual liberty in this complicated world. If your religious practice has been stopped by the government or you fear your local government is preferring (potentially establishing) a particular religion, our firm can help.