Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (U.S. Supreme Court, 2022)

This case involves a public high school football coach who filed a lawsuit claiming religious discrimination under the Free Exercise Clause and employment discrimination laws after he was fired for refusing to stop kneeling in prayer at the football field's 50-yard line immediately following every game. This practice started after the school district directed him to stop leading his team in pre- and post-game prayer, which the coach had done for eight years prior. The lower courts repeatedly ruled in favor of the school district. ADL joined 33 religious organizations, religious denominations, and local clergy in an amicus brief in support of the school district. The brief argues that allowing the football coach to lead the team in prayers at football games undermines the freedom of conscience of student athletes — who may wish to refrain from joining the prayer but who may feel overwhelming pressure to please their coach. It also argues that those student athletes who are able to resist the coach’s pressure are at increased risk of harassment and bullying, from both students and teachers. Moreover, religious minorities are likely to bear the brunt of that bullying, which causes short-term and long-term harms.