Opinion ID: 1741615
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Arguments of the Amici Curiae

Text: In addition to the briefs filed by the parties, this Court has also received briefs from several amici curiae, which may generally be classified as either supporting the trial court's resolution of the matter or opposing it. I will, very briefly, outline the arguments presented by the amici. Briefs were filed by the following amici in support of Judge Price's resolution of this case, and, therefore, in opposition to Judge Moore's practices: the American Jewish Congress, People for the American Way, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State; the Alabama Clergy, the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, Clifton Kirkpatrick, as stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Interfaith Alliance, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; the Anti-Defamation League; and a group of university professors (collectively the Alabama historians). The principal argument presented by those supporting Judge Price's resolution is that Lemon has never been overruled by the Supreme Court and that it therefore remains the law. Under Lemon, they argue, Judge Moore's practices are unconstitutional. They cite Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421, 424, 82 S.Ct. 1261, 1263, 8 L.Ed.2d 601 (1962), for the proposition that the Supreme Court has previously determined that prayer is inherently religious. Citing Larson v. Valente, 456 U.S. at 244, 102 S.Ct. at 1683, some amici argue that, even if Marsh controlled, Judge Moore's actions would still be unconstitutional because, they say, he is giving preferential treatment to the Christian religion. Other amici argue that the practice of having only Christian ministers offer prayers not only violates Lemon, but also violates the endorsement test proposed by Justice O'Connor in her concurring opinion in Lynch, supra, because, these amici say, nonbelievers will receive the message that they are outsiders. Some amici argue that the separation of church and state actually works to the benefit of religion, by preventing politicians from expropriating religion to achieve a political benefit. Others argue that public officials, acting in their public roles, do not have First Amendment rights of free speech with regard to religious beliefs, and that the Establishment Clause prohibits them from engaging in the type of behavior at issue in this case. One amicus argues that the original intent doctrine should not be dispositive because, it says, most who apply that doctrine take quotes out of context and reach results inconsistent with the spirit of the Constitution. Briefs were filed by the following amici in opposition to Judge Price's resolution of this case, and, therefore, in support of Judge Moore: the American Family Association and the National Clergy Council; the Christian Family Association; the members of the Alabama delegation to the 105th Congress of the United States; [23] the American Center for Law and Justice of Alabama; and the Rutherford Institute of Alabama, Inc. Among the arguments presented by those opposing Judge Price's resolution is the argument that the Lemon test was abandoned by the Supreme Court in Rosenberger, that Lemon is dead, and that Marsh controls. Some amici argue that in its Marsh decision the Supreme Court specifically mentioned courts and that because prayer has traditionally been offered in Etowah County courts it is constitutional, either specifically under Marsh or under Marsh 's analysis. Some argue that Justice O'Connor's endorsement test, recognized by a plurality of the Supreme Court in Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board v. Pinette, 515 U.S. 753, 115 S.Ct. 2440, 132 L.Ed.2d 650 (1995), is the most appropriate test to apply and that under that test the facts of this case would not constitute an establishment of religion. Some amici argue that the trial court's injunction is unconstitutional as an improper infringement upon Judge Moore's rights under the Free Exercise Clause. Others argue that the Establishment Clause cannot be given the same meaning when applied against a State official or agency as it is given when applied to a Federal official or agency, because the Establishment Clause has not been made fully applicable to the states. Some argue that courtroom prayer is distinguishable from school prayer because those persons in a courtroom, usually adults, are not as subject to intellectual coercion or peer pressure as children. Some amici argue that the Ten Commandments display is constitutional, even under Lemon, because, they argue, it has a secular purpose, its primary effect is secular (to solemnize the proceedings), and there is no excessive entanglement in that no denomination or church is involved, no government funds are expended, and Judge Moore does not participate in formulating the prayers or in saying them. Further, some amici argue that hanging the Ten Commandments on the courtroom wall does not make any religious statement or convey any religious meaning, and, therefore, does not violate the Establishment Clause.