Coach Fired for Post-Game Prayer Takes Case to Supreme Court: ‘Right This Wrong’
Washington | September 17, 2021
A high school coach who was fired for praying at the 50-yard-line after football games is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to get involved and protect not only his religious liberty but also the freedoms of thousands of other teachers in the region. Joe Kennedy, whose case has gained nationwide attention, was not retained as an assistant coach by Bremerton (Wash.) High School following the 2015 season after he prayed, multiple times, in violation of a district policy. Kennedy’s post-game prayers typically involved him kneeling silently at midfield.
Kennedy lost his case at the district court and at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court declined in 2019 to get involved, although four of the justices expressed openness to hearing the case at a later date after the lower courts better developed the record. Those four justices at the time said the Ninth Circuit’s reasoning “is troubling and may justify review in the future.”.. (Excerpts from the Christian Wire)