Engel v. Vitale (1962) - Case Brief PDF

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Justin Virzi Engel v. Vitale (1962) ● Facts: ○ Parties: ■ Plaintiff: Steven I. Engel (parent of a student at one of the New York public schools) ■ Defendant: William J. Vitale Jr. ○ Participation in prayers were optional. ○ A specific daily prayer was sponsored by the school. ○ New York state’s Board of Regents authorized and encouraged the school prayer. ● Procedural Posture: ○ The District Court of New York ruled in favor of Defendant. ○ The Court of Appeals of New York affirmed. ○ The Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division affirmed. ● Issue: ○ Does universal prayer that is sponsored by public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment? ● Holding: ○ Does universal prayer that is sponsored by public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment? (Yes) ● Rationale: ○ The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" ○ This protection is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment and applied to the States: “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States” ○ Since public schools receive state funding, the school-sponsored prayer would be considered state-sponsored. This is considered a violation of the Establishment Clause ○ The ability to leave does not justify for this violation because it is still government endorsed. ● Concurring: ○ Justice Douglas stated that the grounds of the ruling based upon the federal funding of a public school. ○ Therefore it would be considered advancing a religion. ○ The standard of the Establishment Clause should be applied in all aspects regarding federal money....