Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist. and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist..
Joseph Kennedy, a high school football coach, was terminated by the Bremerton School District after he engaged in personal prayer on the field post-game. The Supreme Court found that the District's actions violated Kennedy's First Amendment rights under the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses. The Court determined that the District's policies were neither neutral nor generally applicable, and that Kennedy's prayers were private speech.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist..
The Court held that the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses protect an individual's personal religious observance from government reprisal.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Free Exercise of Religion is relevant to Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.
The case primarily deals with the Free Exercise Clause as Mr. Kennedy's right to engage in a personal religious observance was central to the Court's decision.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in a personal religious observance from government reprisal.
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Why Free Speech is relevant to Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.
The Free Speech Clause is also central as the Court evaluated whether Mr. Kennedy's prayers were protected speech.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The First Amendment's protections extend to 'teachers and students,' neither of whom 'shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.'
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Why Establishment of Religion is relevant to Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.
The Establishment Clause was considered in determining whether the school district's actions were justified to avoid endorsing religion.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)The District, like the Ninth Circuit below, insists Mr. Kennedy's rights to religious exercise and free speech must yield to the District's interest in avoiding an Establishment Clause violation under Lemon and its progeny.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist. that support the summary and concepts above.
The Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in a personal religious observance from government reprisal.
The District's challenged policies were neither neutral nor generally applicable.
Mr. Kennedy's prayers did not 'owe their existence' to Mr. Kennedy's responsibilities as a public employee.
