leevweisman

Lee vs. Weisman
505 U.S. 577 (1992)

__Facts__: (D) A principal (Robert E. Lee) of Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island was sued because the graduation ceremony included a service conducted by a Rabbi that acknowledged the existence of a god. (P) A student (Deborah Weisman) sued the school on the ground that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

__Issues / Answers__: Is including clerical members who offer prayers as part of the official school graduation ceremony consistent with the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment? No.

__Basis / Rationale__: The U.S. Supreme Court found on 6/24/92 that including clergy who offer prayers as part of an official public school graduation ceremony is forbidden by the Establishment Clause. To have prayer at a graduation ceremony places subtle and indirect public peer pressure on the establishment of religion, and government may not coerce anyone to support or participate in religion or the exercise of religion. Furthermore, the free exercise of religion does not supersede the fundamental limitations imposed by the Establishment Clause.