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Won U.S. Courts of Appeals

Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Obama

The #1 Thing Your Church Board Should Do Next and How It Can Help Protect Religious Freedom

Summary

In 1952, President Harry Truman signed into law a joint resolution by Congress to set aside an annual National Day of Prayer. Congress amended the law in 1988, which was signed by President Ronald Reagan, specifying that the annual event would be observed on “the first Thursday in May each year.” Freedom From Religion Foundation, filed a lawsuit challenging the event, claiming that government-issued proclamations encouraging citizens to pray are unconstitutional.

Alliance Defending Freedom represented Shirley Dobson, wife of Dr. James Dobson, who served on the National Day of Prayer Task Force and was named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The federal court dismissed all claims against Mrs. Dobson. On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected FFRF's efforts to strike down the National Day of Prayer. The court determined that “a feeling of alienation” was not sufficient legal grounds for the atheist group to file suit.

What's at stake

Challenges to national events recognizing our country's religious heritage

Whether those who are merely offended by public displays of religious expression can challenge them in court 

Our role in this case

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represented the private, non-profit National Day of Prayer Task Force in a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the Seventh Circuit after prevailing in having then-chairperson Shirley Dobson dismissed from the lawsuit at the district court level.

Case Documents

Court
Title
Date
Appellate Court
4/14/2011
Trial Court
4/22/2010
Resource
4/16/2010
Trial Court
4/15/2010
Trial Court
3/9/2009

Case Profiles

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Kevin Theriot
Kevin Theriot
Senior Counsel
Kevin Theriot serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is a key member of the Center for Life Team working to defend pro-life speech and protect medical rights of conscience.