Legal Opinion
Sands v. Morongo Unified School District
California Supreme Court
Decided May 6, 1991No. S012721PublishedCited by 75 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion
KENNARD,J.
—In this case we hold that religious invocations and benedictions at public high school graduation ceremonies are constitutionally impermissible. Our review of applicable precedent convinces us that this practice violates the guarantees found in the United States and California Constitutions that religion and government shall remain separate.
Ours is a nation composed of people of many different races and faiths. Some are Native Americans, many of whom adhere to beliefs formed here over many centuries; others are immigrants, or the descendants of *868immigrants, many of whom came…
2Cases cited32 opinions
- Lemon v. KurtzmanSupreme Court of the United States · 1971
- Everson v. Board of Ed. of EwingSupreme Court of the United States · 1947
- Abington School Dist. v. SchemppSupreme Court of the United States · 1963
- Walz v. Tax Comm'n of City of New YorkSupreme Court of the United States · 1970
- Widmar v. VincentSupreme Court of the United States · 1981
27 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by75 opinions
- Cooper v. BrownCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 2007
- Vernon v. City of Los AngelesCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1994
- Society of Separationists, Inc. v. WhiteheadUtah Supreme Court · 1993
- Monte D. Tucker v. State of California Department of Education James L. Phillips Maria R. Balakshin Terry ProscholdCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1996
- Ellis v. City of La MesaCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1993
70 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.