Town of Greece v. Galloway is a landmark Supreme Court case in the United States that dealt with the constitutionality of legislative prayer at town board meetings. The case was decided in 2014.

Background: The Town of Greece, New York, had a practice of opening its monthly town board meetings with a prayer. The prayers were typically delivered by local clergy members who were invited on a rotating basis. The majority of the prayers were Christian in nature. Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, residents of Greece, challenged the town’s prayer practices, arguing that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by endorsing Christianity.

Supreme Court Decision: In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Town of Greece. The Court held that the town’s practice of opening meetings with prayer did not violate the Establishment Clause.

Key points from the majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, include:

• Longstanding Tradition: The Court emphasized the historical tradition of legislative prayer dating back to the First Congress. The majority argued that the town’s practice was consistent with this historical tradition.
• Inclusive Nature: The Court noted that the town had made efforts to be inclusive by inviting clergy members from various religious backgrounds to deliver prayers.
• No Coercion: The majority held that attendees were not coerced into participating in the prayer, and there was no indication that the town was endorsing a specific religious viewpoint.
• Ceremonial Nature: The Court characterized the prayers as ceremonial and reflective of the town’s desire to solemnize its proceedings rather than an endorsement of religion.

The dissent, written by Justice Elena Kagan, argued that the town’s practices favored Christianity and did not adequately respect the diversity of religious beliefs within the community.

The Town of Greece v. Galloway decision clarified the legal standards for legislative prayer and reinforced the idea that, under certain conditions, ceremonial prayers with a historical tradition may be permissible at government meetings without violating the Establishment Clause.