Attorney General James Uthmeier Leads Multi-State Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Protect Religious Expression in School Sports

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier and 17 other state attorneys general filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court in Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association, urging the Court to safeguard the constitutional right of religious expression in high school athletics.

“The Constitution does not require state-sponsored hostility toward religion—especially not in a moment as meaningful as pre-game prayer,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We are urging the Court to correct this misinterpretation and ensure that students do not have to hide their faith on the playing field.”

Florida led the coalition in supporting two Christian high schools that were denied the opportunity to offer a pre-game prayer over stadium loudspeakers before a state championship game. The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) cited outdated Establishment Clause precedent to justify its denial, specifically relying on the Supreme Court’s 2000 decision in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe.

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld FHSAA’s decision on government speech grounds, while still invoking Santa Fe. In this filing, Attorney General James Uthmeier and a coalition of states argue that Santa Fe was wrongly decided, fundamentally ahistorical, and unjustifiably hostile to religion—calling on the Supreme Court to overrule it.

To read the amicus brief, click here.

Others joining the amicus brief are the attorneys general from Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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