Brian FIELDS; Paul Tucker; Deana Weaver; Scott Rhoades; Joshua E. Neiderhiser; Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, Inc.; Dillsburg Area Freethinkers; Lancaster Freethought Society; Rev. Dr. Neal Jones; Philadelphia Ethical Society; Richard Kiniry
Brian Fields; Paul Tucker; Deana Weaver; Scott Rhoades; Joshua E. Neiderhiser; Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, Inc.; Dillsburg Area Freethinkers; Lancaster Freethought Society; Rev. Dr. Neal Jones; Philadelphia Ethical Society Appellants (18-3167),
v.
SPEAKER OF the PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Director of Special Events of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 92; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 95; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 97; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 165; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 167; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 182; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 193; Representative for Pennsylvania House District 196, all solely in their official Capacities Appellants (18-2974).
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.https://leagle.com/images/logo.png
Argued June 17, 2019.
Opinion filed: August 23, 2019.
Attorney(s) appearing for the Case
Jonathan F. Bloom , Karl S. Myers (Argued), Spencer R. Short , Kyle A. Jacobsen , Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Mark E. Chopko , Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, 1250 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036, Counsel for Appellant/Cross Appellee Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Randall L. Wenger , Jeremy L. Samek , Independence Law Center, 23 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, John J. Bursch , David A. Cortman , Jeremy Tedesco , Alliance Defending Freedom, 440 First Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20001, Counsel for Amicus Appellants/Cross Appellees Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, Lloyd Smucker, Glenn Thompson.
Steven W. Fitschen , James A. Davids , The National Legal Foundation, 2224 Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 204, Virginia Beach, VA 23454, Counsel for Amicus Appellants/Cross Appellee Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers, National Legal Foundation, Veterans in Defense of Liberty.
Eric S. Baxter , Chase T. Harrington , Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, 1200 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036, Counsel for Proposed Amicus Aleph Institute.
Gregory E. Ostfeld , Greenberg Traurig, 77 West Wacker Drive, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60601, Alan Hersh , Greenberg Traurig, 300 West 6th Street, Suite 2050, Austin, TX 78701, Vitaliy Kats , Greenberg Traurig, 101 East Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1900, Tampa, FL 33602, Gregory M. Lipper , Clinton & Peed, 777 6th Street, NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Monica L. Miller , American Humanist Association, 1821 Jefferson Place NW, Washington, DC 20036, Counsel for Amicus Appellees/Cross Appellants Anti-Defamation League, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hindu American Foundation, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, Jewish Social Policy Action Network, Keshet, Men of Reform Judaism, National Council of Jewish Women, Asian Pacific American Advocates, People for the American Way Foundation, Truah Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, Union for Reform Judaism, Women of Reform Judaism, American Humanist Association, Jamie Raskin, Representative Jared Huffman.
Patrick C. Elliott , Colin E. McNamara , Freedom from Religion Foundation, 10 North Henry Street, Madison, WI 53703, Counsel for Amicus Appellee Freedom from Religion Foundation.
Before: AMBRO, RESTREPO, and FISHER, Circuit Judges
OPINION OF THE COURT
AMBRO, Circuit Judge
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives begins most legislative sessions with a prayer. The practice has two features that are challenged in this appeal. First, the House invites guest chaplains to offer the prayer, but it excludes nontheists (those who do not espouse belief in a god or gods, though not necessarily atheists) from serving as chaplains on the theory that "prayer" presupposes a higher power. Second...
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