Today the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in American Humanist Association v. Birdville Independent School District, (Docket No. 17-178, cert. denied 11/27/2017). (Order List). In the case, the 5th Circuit upheld a school board's practice of opening its meetings with presentations from students, which often involve a prayer. It held that legislative prayer cases, not the decisions regarding school prayer, govern this situation. (See prior posting.)
The Supreme Court today also denied review in Phelps-Roper v. Ricketts, (Docket No. 17-427, cert. denied 11/27/2017). (Order List). In the case the 8th Circuit upheld Nebraska's Funeral Picketing Law against both facial and as-applied challenges brought by members of the Westboro Baptist Church. (See prior posting.)
