The issue of public prayer was once again before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway, 134 S.Ct. 1811 (2014). After an extensive analysis of the facts at issue, as well as American historical practice, the court, through a majority opinion drafted by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ruled in favor of the town of Greece.
Galloway dealt with the local town board meetings of the small town of Greece, N.Y. The meetings took place on a monthly basis and were the forum for local municipal legislation and municipal decisions, such as whether to grant or deny zoning variances, as well as the opportunity for local citizens to express their concerns to the board. Since 1999, the board meetings have begun with an invocative prayer said by a local clergyman (sometimes called a chaplain) who faced the gathered citizens (as opposed to the board) and more often than not invited those collected at the meeting to join him in his supplication to God.
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