Court Opinion

ID: 9594129
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:27:24.124957+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:23.010730
License: Public Domain

HOWE, Associate Chief Justice,
concurring with reservation:
I concur with one reservation. The majority opinion rests on grounds other than Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 783, 103 S.Ct. 3330, 77 L.Ed.2d 1019 (1983). Consequently, I find it unnecessary to analyze Marsh and attempt to distinguish it from the instant case as does the majority. In that case, the Court recognized that “the opening of sessions of legislative and other deliberative public bodies with prayer is deeply embedded in the history and tradition of this country.” 463 U.S. at 786, 103 S.Ct. at 3333, 77 L.Ed.2d at 1024 (emphasis added). The City Council here is a “deliberative body,” a legislative body. In my opinion, public participation in the state legislature, particularly through its committees, is just as intense as it is on the local level in city councils. Arguably, it is immaterial that Salt Lake City did not have prayer in its commission meetings from 1911 to 1979 because any newly formed state or city should be able to draw upon the history and tradition recognized in Marsh.
Thus, I prefer to reserve my judgment on the application of Marsh to the facts here presented. It is unnecessary for us to analyze and attempt to distinguish Marsh because we dispose of the case on other adequate grounds.