Wallace v. Jaffree,

Alabama Law is Established

Jan 1, 1981

An Alabama law authorized teachers to set aside one minute at the start of each day for a moment of "silent meditation or voluntary prayer."

Jaffree sues Mobile County School Board, school officials, and three teachers

May 28, 1982

Jaffree sought a declaratory judgment and an injunction restraining the defendants from "maintaining or allowing the maintenance of regular religious prayer services or other forms of religious observances in the Mobile County Public Schools in violation of the First Amendment as made applicable to states by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution."

Court Finds in Favor of Defendents

Dec 14, 1983

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama found in favor of the Defendents and allowed the practice to continue.

Court Reverses Decision

Dec 30, 1984

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed the previous decision and found the law unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court Finds the Law Unconstitutional

Jun 25, 1985

In 6-3 vote, the Suprememe Court rules that the Alabama law violated constitutional principle.

Lee v. Weisman Cites This Case

Jan 1, 1992

In the Lee v. Weisman case the precedent set during the Wallace v. Jaffree case is cited by the Supreme Court.

Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe Cites This Case

Mar 29, 2000

In the Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe the precedent set during the Wallace v. Jaffree case was cited.