WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the case of a former high school football coach who said he had a free-speech right to pray at the 50-yard line surrounded by players.
If the court’s conservative majority agrees, it could open the door for a return to organized prayers in public schools.
For decades, the court has held to the rule that public schools and their employees may not organize or promote group prayers, even if a student is holding the microphone. Those decisions are based on the 1st Amendment’s ban on “an establishment of religion” by the government.
