Lee v. Weisman - Significance

The ruling constituted a political, if not legal, surprise. With the Supreme Court comprising a majority of justices appointed by conservative presidents, a decision validating the use of prayer in the public schools was anticipated by many. With this decision, the Court affirmed earlier rulings such as Wallace v. Jaffree (1985) and Marsh v. Chambers (1983). Significantly, the Court also refused a direct request from the administration of President George Bush to review the test for violation of the Establishment Clause developed in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971).