Posted on 02/25/2005 8:18:36 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Congress and legislatures can open their sessions with prayers, but a federal judge ruled Friday that school boards do not have the same leeway.
Ruling in a lawsuit brought by a parent against a southeastern Louisiana school system, Judge Ginger Berrigan said school-sponsored prayers in classes or at other school functions have long been prohibited as a violation of First Amendment guarantees against government-established religion.
School boards are integral parts of school systems, she said.
"In officially promoting a religious practice at its governmental meetings, the board is doing what its schools and teachers cannot do, favor religion over nonreligion and endorse particular religious faiths," Berrigan wrote.
School children whose faiths are different from the majority of students are vulnerable to peer pressure and feelings of isolation, Berrigan wrote. "Even without student participation, the board's policy of opening with prayer is an endorsement of religion," the opinion said.
Chris Moody, a lawyer for the school board, said he believes an appeal is likely. An appeal would go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which Moody noted has allowed prayer at graduation ceremonies.
The decision was the latest development in a long legal battle over prayer at school functions in Tangipahoa. The lawsuit originally included objections to prayers at Loranger High School football games, but that portion of the lawsuit was settled last year, and prayers were dropped at games and other school events.
The American Civil Liberties Union represented the parent, identified only as John Doe in court documents.
"The court's well reasoned opinion recognizes the ACLU's arguments that parents, children and members of the community should not have to pay the price of religious indoctrination to attend a school board meeting," Joe Cook, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said in a news release.
Then again, the way our city has been run, a judge would surely make an exception. They need all the help they can get.
...Where are the patriots who would stand with Adams and declare "Justice Jay has had his say, now let him enforce it!"?...
Here.
will reconstruction ever end?
"Judge (Ginger) was appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Bill Clinton"
Can I call'em, or what?
She's a scumbag.... Surprise, surprise.
you might as well make it illegal to breathe. Morons. Pitiful, warped, and demented morons.
Berrigan, Helen Ginger Born 1948 in New Rochelle, NYNow what what I find amazing is this "judge's" ... ahem ... qualifications, or more accurately the LACK of them. This sow wasn't even a judge prior to Willard nominating her. She had ZERO experience, not even hearing traffic cases. As to her 'private practice' - I'll bet it dealt with "women's issues".
Federal Judicial Service:
U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
Nominated by William J. Clinton on November 18, 1993, to a seat vacated by Patrick E. Carr; Confirmed by the Senate on March 10, 1994, and received commission on March 10, 1994. Served as chief judge, 2001-present.Education:
University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1969
American University, M.A., 1971
Louisiana State University Law School, J.D., 1977Professional Career:
Staff attorney, Governor's Pardon, Parole and Rehabilitation Commission, 1977-1978
Private practice, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1978-1994Race or Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Anyone named "Berrigan" or "Cockburn" is automatically the enemy.
Clinton Appointee. Remember when Clinton was rambling on about his tough anti crime stances? She was his first pick in Louisiana , former ACLU head and Black Panther counsel. She has ,or had, monthly lunches at Angola with the "Lifres' Club" and was given a gavel made by these harmless cherubs,who were all obviously wronged by society.
That's a judge? Sounds like a porn star name or something.
Free Bush's judicial nominees today!
The ACLU has long been a tool of the left. Communism outlaws traditional religion in order to become a cult-religion itself. I see no complaint about the daily religious indoctrination in communism on a daily basis in our schools and universities. Not unexpected as calling black white is the norm with them.
Something keeps tugging at my memory here. Weren't there
a couple of anti-Vietnam war priests back in the 60s-70s
named Phillip and Daniel Berrigan? Created not a few
problems during that era as I recall. I wonder if this
woman is part of that family.
I think this judge was President of the ACLU in Louisiana 11 or 12 years ago.
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