October Term 2021 · Docket 21-418
Can a public school fire a coach for praying on the field?
Coach Joe Kennedy claims his on-field prayers are protected speech. The school district says his actions violate its neutral rules.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Clement argued Kennedy's prayers were entirely his own private expression.
Katskee argued the district allowed private prayers but not Kennedy's specific actions.
Clement argued religion requires a different test than general speech claims.
Katskee argued the district's rules were neutral and applied consistently.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-53
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Coach Joe Kennedy prayed at midfield after games. The school district fired him. He claims this violated his free exercise and free speech rights. The district claims his actions were not protected speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
What each side wants
Kennedy wants the Court to rule his prayers were protected speech.
The district wants the Court to uphold its neutral employment rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
What each side says
Kennedy argues his private religious expression is doubly protected by the Constitution.
The district argues his actions were not protected speech under neutral rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if an employee can be fired for private actions during work hours.
Justice Thomas asked how the Garcetti standard applies to free exercise claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-53
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of religious expression in public schools. It affects how public employers manage employee conduct. It balances individual rights against institutional neutrality.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
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 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-53
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 109, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 109, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-29
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.