Court rejects coach's appeal on team prayer
Associated Press - 3/3/2009 5:00:00 AM

SUPREME COURT- The Supreme Court won't review a lower-court decision that banned a high school football coach from bowing his head and "taking a knee" during prayers led by his players.

Marcus Borden had hoped to overturn an appeals court ruling that upheld the East Brunswick, New Jersey, school district's policy barring him and other staff from joining in student-led prayer. But the court on Monday refused to take his appeal.

The Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the school district policy is constitutional, but the judges differed on what exactly a coach should do if his team prays. Borden, the East Brunswick coach since 1983, had a long history of leading prayers before he was ordered to stop.

John Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, which represented Borden, said Monday's ruling could have a chilling effect on other coaches who want to show respect while their teams pray.

But Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represented the school district, said Borden had previously led team prayers and promoted religion.

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