Bormuth v. County of Jackson

The Jackson County Michigan Board of Commissioners begins its monthly meetings with a Christian prayer. Bormuth, a non-Christian county resident, attended meetings because he was concerned about environmental issues. During the prayer, Bormuth was the only one in attendance who did not rise and bow his head. Bormuth felt isolated, and worried that the Commissioners would hold against him his decision to stay seated. He later raised the First Amendment issue during a public comment period. The Commissioners reacted with “disgust.” Bormuth filed suit asserting that this prayer practice violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. In the meantime, the Commissioners declined Bormuth’s application to serve on an environmental committee. The district court granted the County summary judgment. The Sixth Circuit reversed. The prayer practice coerced residents to support and participate in the exercise of religion and was well outside the tradition of historically tolerated prayer. View "Bormuth v. County of Jackson" on Justia Law