Wallace vs. Jaffree Jess Kovitch Honors Government

Case Background  Mobile County, Alabama 1985  Ishmael Jaffree vs. Mobile County School District Ishmael believed his three kids were being subjected to participate in school prayer. And when they opted not to take part in the prayers, they were picked on. He addressed the school about the issue on several occasions and his requests were ignored.

In Court…  The case was brought to Alabama District Court. After careful review the court issued in favor of the school.  The Eleventh Circuit State Court of Appeals reversed the District Court’s decision. They believed the ruling was unconstitutional. In that it violated the Establishment Clause and Freedom of Religion.  Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mr. Jaffree. Said that the school was violating constitutional principle and practicing against the Establishment of Religion.

Why Was Alabama Wrong?  The schools inclusion of prayer into the school day violated: The Establishment Clause and First Amendment  The boundary of Freedom of Religion was being overstepped when it became part of a public school’s routine school day. Free exercise of religion is not allowed in public places, unless those places are open to all forms of religion (which the school was not).  “The First Amendment was adopted to curtail Congress' power to interfere with the individual's freedom to believe, to worship, and to express himself in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience.”