Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe

Santa Fe High School traditionally had its student-elected chaplain deliver a Christian prayer over the loudspeaker before football games; Doe (plaintiff) sued the school district (defendant), and during litigation the district revised its policy to allow, but not require, student-initiated prayer at home games, later modified by the district court to permit only nonsectarian, non-proselytizing prayer. The court of appeals held the policy unconstitutional even as modified, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.