Town of Greece v. Galloway - Post-Decision SCOTUScast
SCOTUScast 5-8-14 featuring Kim Colby
SCOTUScast 5-8-14 featuring Kim Colby
On May 5, 2014, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway. The question in the case was whether the practice of opening a town meeting with prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
In an opinion delivered by Justice Kennedy, the Court held by a vote of 5-4 that the town's prayer practice did not violate the Establishment Clause. Justice Kennedy was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito in full; Justices Scalia and Thomas joined except for Part II-B; Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion joined by Justice Scalia. Justice Thomas concurred in part and concurred in the judgment, joined in part by Justice Scalia. Justice Breyer dissented alone; Justice Kagan filed a dissenting opinion in which Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, and Sotomayor joined. The opinion of the Second Circuit was reversed.
To discuss the case, we have Kim Colby, who is Senior Counsel for the Christian Legal Society.
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Of Counsel, Christian Legal Society's Center for Law & Religious Freedom
Kim Colby has worked for Christian Legal Society’s Center for Law and Religious Freedom since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1981. She has represented religious groups in several appellate cases, including two cases heard by the United States Supreme Court. She has filed numerous amicus briefs in federal and state courts. In 1984, she assisted in congressional passage of the Equal Access Act, 20 U.S.C. § 4071, et seq., which protects the right of secondary school students to meet for prayer and Bible study on campus. Ms. Colby has prepared several CLS publications addressing issues about religious expression in public schools, including released time programs, implementation of the Equal Access Act, and teachers’ religious expression.
Ms. Colby graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois with a major in American History and a particular interest in slavery in colonial North America.