The Warren Court
The Warren Court was the Supreme Court of the United States between 1953 and 1969, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Earl Warren was known to lead a majority that used their power in a dramatic way. This court was notorious for expanding civil rights, liberties, judicial power, and federal power. Not only that, but they were known to have reach for the expansion of the scope of the First Amendment’s application to laws. They were awarded for ending racial segregation in America, applying the Bill of Rights to the states, and ending voluntary prayer in public schools. In the topic of religion in public schools, the Warren Court argued that official voluntary prayer and mandatory bible readings were unconstitutional.
ABINGTON v. SCHEMPP The Warren Court found mandatory bible readings in public school unconstitutional. Justice Clark wrote in the opinion, “We repeat and again reaffirm that neither a State not the Federal Government can constitutionally force a person ‘to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion.’ Neither can constitutionally pass laws or impose requirements which aid all religions as against non-believers, and neither can aide in those religions based on a belief in the existence of God as against those religions founded on different beliefs." |
MEMBERS OF THE COURT
CHIEF JUSTICE Earl Warren ASSOCIATE JUSTICES Hugo Black Felix Frankfurter William O. Douglas Tom C. Clark John M. Harlan II William J. Brennan, Jr. Potter Stewart Byron White |
ENGEL v. VITALE
This case brought complaints upon the Warren Court, since many found the ruling to be very controversial. However, the Court defended these claims in their dissent. Justice Hugo Black wrote, “It is neither sacrilegious nor antireligious to say that each separate government in this country should stay out of the business of writing or sanctioning official prayers…” After this ruling, state governments have no right to “prescribe by law any particular form of prayer which is to be used as an official prayer in carrying on any program of governmentally sponsored religious activity.”
This case brought complaints upon the Warren Court, since many found the ruling to be very controversial. However, the Court defended these claims in their dissent. Justice Hugo Black wrote, “It is neither sacrilegious nor antireligious to say that each separate government in this country should stay out of the business of writing or sanctioning official prayers…” After this ruling, state governments have no right to “prescribe by law any particular form of prayer which is to be used as an official prayer in carrying on any program of governmentally sponsored religious activity.”