October Term 2013 · Docket 12-696
Does the First Amendment ban town board prayers?
The dispute centers on whether town board prayers violate the Establishment Clause.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Hungar argued the Second Circuit's approach is flawed.
Mr. Gershengorn argued the lower court required excessive judicial review.
Mr. Laycock argued the town's answer is entirely formalistic.
Mr. Hungar cited the Senate brief on prayer history.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Town of Greece argues its opening prayers are constitutional. Galloway argues the prayers exclude non-Christians and violate the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-41
What each side wants
The town wants the Court to uphold its prayer practice.
Galloway wants the Court to strike down the prayer practice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
What each side says
The town argues legislative prayers have a long historical tradition.
Galloway argues the prayers exclude non-Christians and coerce participation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the distinction applies to congressional hearings.
Justice Scalia questioned the town's stance on the marshal's announcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of government-sponsored religious speech. It determines whether local boards can open meetings with sectarian prayers. The outcome shapes the daily experience of citizens attending public meetings. It clarifies the boundary between state and religion in local governance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.