Judge Denies Request To Amend Indiana Legislative Prayer Ruling

Indiana federal district judge David Hamilton on Wednesday denied a request to amend his order banning sectarian prayer in the Indiana House of Representatives. (See prior posting). This clears the way for an appeal. House Speaker Brian Bosma argued that the ruling was too vague to enforce. The Indianapolis Star today reports that the refusal was accompanied by this warning from Judge Hamilton: "If the speaker or those offering prayers seek to evade the injunction through indirect but well understood expressions of specifically Christian beliefs, the audience, the public, and the court will be able to see what is happening. In that unlikely event, the court will be able to take appropriate measures to enforce" the injunction.