United States Fourth Circuit

Plaintiff successfully challenged defendant-town council from engaging in prayers that specifically invoke Jesus Christ during monthly council meetings, on grounds that defendant's conduct violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/22/2004
• Published 07/22/2004

Judges

• Before MOTZ and KING, Circuit Judges, and David R. HANSEN, Senior Circuit Judge of the United States Court of

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:Andrew Frederick Lindemann, Davidson, Morrison & Lindemann, P.A., Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellants.  Herbert E. Buhl, III, Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee. ON BRIEF:  Brian M. Gibbons, Hamilton, Delleney & Gibbons, P.A., Chester, South Carolina, for Appellants.  Henry Dargan McMaster, Attorney General, John W. McIntosh, Chief Deputy Attorney General, Robert D. Cook, Assistant Deputy Attorney General, C. Havird Jones, Jr., Senior Assistant Attorney General, Columbia, South Carolina, for Amicus Curiae State of South Carolina.  Ayesha N. Khan, Legal Director, Americans United for Separation of Church And State, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Curiae Americans United for Separation of Church and State.  Marc D. Stern, American Jewish Congress, New York, New York, for Amicus Curiae The American Jewish Congress.