Engel v. Vitale

Petitioner

Steven L. Engel, et al.

Respondent

William J. Vitale, et al.

Petitioner's Claim

That an official state prayer, even though it is nondenominational and voluntary, violates the First Amendment prohibition against state establishment of religion.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner

William J. Butler

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Bertram B. Daiker

Justices for the Court

Hugo Lafayette Black (writing for the Court), William J. Brennan, Jr., Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas, John Marshall Harlan II, Earl Warren

Justices Dissenting

Potter Stewart (Felix Frankfurter and Byron R. White did not participate)

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

25 June 1962

Decision

The Supreme Court declared that the creation of an official state prayer was unconstitutional.

Related Cases

• Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306 (1952).
• Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985).

Sources

Seelye, Katharine Q. "House Rejects Drive to Allow Formal Prayer in the Schools."New York Times, 5 June 1998.