Appeals Court Allows Student-Led Graduation Prayers

A school district that allows the top four graduating seniors to speak on any topic during commencement exercises does not violate the First Amendment, even if the students elect to recite prayers or sing religious songs, a federal appeals court ruled last week.

The 3-0 ruling by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is the latest in the ongoing battle over graduation prayers. The San Francisco-based court said the policy of the 4,200-student Madison district in Rexburg, Idaho, passed constitutional muster because the content of the students' speech was not controlled by school officials.

"Under the Madison school district's policy, control vests in the individual students, not the state," said the May 27 ruling in Doe v. Madison School District No. 321 .