United States Fifth Circuit

La. Rev. Stat. 17:2115(A), which required local school boards and parishes to permit school authorities to allow students and teachers to observe a "brief time in silent meditation" at the beginning of each school day, violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because it does not have a secular legislative purpose.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/11/2001
• Published 12/11/2001

Judges

• DUHÉ, Circuit Judge:, Before KING, Chief Judge, and DUHÉ and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Ayesha Khan (argued), Americans United For Separation of Church & State, Washington, DC, William P. Quigley, Loyola Law School Clinic, New Orleans, LA, Charles L. Kincade, Monroe, LA, Marjorie Ruth Esman, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiffs-Appellees., James Carl Hrdlicka (argued), Baton Rouge, LA, for Defendant-Appellant.