Montgomery County judge sued over courtroom prayer policy
A national organization that advocates for separation of church and state on Wednesday refiled an unusual federal lawsuit against a sitting judge who invites chaplains to hold a prayer service in the courtroom before calling his docket for the day.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is suing Justice of the Peace Wayne L. Mack, who serves in rapidly developing Montgomery County north of Houston as well as the state of Texas for allowing a practice the organization says violates the constitutional protections. The federal case originally sought relief from the judge and the county where he serves.
Sam Grover, an attorney from the nonprofit foundation in Madison, Wisc., said Mack’s courtroom prayer service unfairly pressures parties and lawyers to join a volunteer chaplain judge in prayer, while the judge watches to see what they do. The fact that he announces people can leave the room if they’re “offended” by the ritual only adds to the pressure to participate, the lawyer said.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Montgomery-County-judge-sued-over-courtroom-13905145.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
