MARSA v. WERNIK


86 N.J. 232 (1981)

430 A.2d 888

PAUL MARSA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. DONALD J. WERNIK, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE MAYOR OF THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN, DONALD J. BARNICKEL, JOHN W. BERTRAND, PATRICIA LAGAY, DENNIS O'LEARY, THOMAS E. SHARP, AND JOHN WILEY, JR., INDIVIDUALLY AND AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN, DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS.

The Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Decided June 8, 1981.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Robert A. Vort argued the cause for appellant.

Martin A. Spritzer argued the cause for respondents (Martin A. Spritzer, attorney; Dennis J. Conklin, on the brief).


The opinion of the Court was delivered by HANDLER, J.

The issue presented in this case is whether the commencement of public meetings of a municipal governing body with a brief exercise, variously referred to as an invocation, prayer or silent meditation, violates the Establishment of Religion Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Challenging this practice is a resident and taxpayer of the municipality, an atheist. Defendants are the mayor...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases