Freedom From Religion Found., Inc. v. Obama, No. 10-1973 (7th Cir. 2011)
Annotate this CaseEvery president, except Jefferson, has issued proclamations including an invitation to pray. The president is directed by 36 U.S.C. 119 to proclaim a national day of prayer. The district court found the statute to be a violation of the Establishment Clause and enjoined the President from issuing such a proclamation. The Seventh Circuit vacated for lack of a justiciable issue. The statute imposes duties on the President alone and does not harm the plaintiffs. No person is required to pray; any "slight" perceived by plaintiffs is insufficient to establish standing. The courts do not censor the President.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.