TAMPA, Fla. – A long-running legal battle over a pre-game prayer at a high school football championship is heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, as Cambridge Christian School in Tampa seeks to overturn an appeals court ruling that barred a prayer over a stadium loudspeaker.
Attorneys for Cambridge Christian School last week filed a 37-page petition with the Supreme Court, urging it to reverse a decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The appeals court had sided with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), ruling that announcements at the 2015 championship game in Orlando were “government speech” controlled by the FHSAA, and therefore, blocking the prayer did not violate free speech rights.
READ: Substitute Teacher Busted For ‘Air Dropping’ Obscene Images To Jennings Middle Schoolers
Cambridge Christian argues this ruling is “egregiously wrong” and could have significant implications for religious liberty, potentially allowing state actors to suppress private religious expression in government settings. The school contends that the appeals court’s decision deviates from Supreme Court precedent and poses a “grave threat to religious speech and exercise.”
The dispute originated from a 2015 championship game between Cambridge Christian and Jacksonville’s University Christian School. Although the FHSAA denied loudspeaker use for the prayer, teams prayed on the field, though these were not audible to spectators. The case has seen multiple rulings, with a U.S. District Judge twice siding with the FHSAA before the appeals court affirmed that decision last year.
RELATED: Christian School In Tampa Continues Legal Battle Over Pregame Prayer Ban
The FHSAA has until July 10 to file its response to Cambridge Christian’s petition. Amidst the legal proceedings, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature in 2023 approved a law allowing “brief opening remarks,” including prayers, before championship events, though the appeals court noted this legislation did not fully resolve the existing lawsuit due to Cambridge Christian seeking “nominal damages.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
