Engel v. Vitale

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Engel v. Vitale (1962)
the Supreme Court of the United States

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Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that determined that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and require its recitation in public schools, even when it is non-denominational and students may excuse themselves from participation. Warning: template has been deprecated.

1877Engel v. Vitale — Syllabusthe Supreme Court of the United States

Court Documents

Opinion of the Court

Concurring Opinion: Douglas

Dissenting Opinion: Stewart

Linked case(s):

472 U.S. 38
505 U.S. 577
530 U.S. 290

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

370 U.S. 421

Engel v. Vitale

CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NEW YORK

No. 468 Argued: April 3, 1962 --- Decided: June 25, 1962

Because of the prohibition of the First Amendment against the enactment of any law "respecting an establishment of religion," which is made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment, state officials may not compose an official state prayer and require that it be recited in the public schools of the State at the beginning of each school day -- even if the prayer is denominationally neutral and pupils who wish to do so may remain silent or be excused from the room while the prayer is being recited. Pp. 422-436.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).

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Engel v. Vitale

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