Residents brought civil rights action against town, alleging town’s practice of opening town board meetings with prayer violated First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The District Court granted summary judgment for town. Residents appealed. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed. Certiorari was granted.
The Supreme Court, held that:
- Prayer opening town board meetings did not have to be nonsectarian to comply with the Establishment Clause, abrogating County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, 492 U.S. 573, 109 S.Ct. 3086, 106 L.Ed.2d 472;
- Town did not violate First Amendment by opening town board meetings with prayer that comported with tradition of the United States; and
- Prayer at opening of town board meetings did not compel its citizens to engage in a religious observance, in violation of the Establishment Clause.