Engel v. Vitale | |
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Argued April 3, 1962 Decided June 25, 1962 | |
Full case name | Steven I. Engel, et al. v. William J. Vitale, Jr., et al. |
Citations | 370 U.S. 421 (more) |
Related cases | Abington School District v. Schempp |
Argument | Oral argument |
Case history | |
Prior | 191 N.Y.S.2d 453 (Sup. Ct. 1959), aff'd, 206 N.Y.S.2d 183 (App. Div. 1960), aff'd, 176 N.E.2d 579 (N.Y. 1961); cert. granted, 368 U.S. 924 (1961). |
Subsequent | 186 N.E.2d 124 (N.Y. 1962) |
Holding | |
Recitation of a government-written prayer in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, even if the prayer is denominationally neutral and students may remain silent or be excused from the classroom during its recitation. | |
Court membership | |
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Case opinions | |
Majority | Black, joined by Warren, Douglas, Clark, Harlan, Brennan |
Concurrence | Douglas |
Dissent | Stewart |
Frankfurter and White took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
Laws applied | |
U.S. Const. amend. I |
Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools, due to violation of the First Amendment.[1] The ruling has been the subject of intense debate.[2][3][4]