9th Cir.;
16-35801

The court of appeals affirmed a district court judgment. The court held that the district court did not err in denying a preliminary injunction that would require a school district to allow a football coach to kneel and pray on the fifty-yard line in view of students and parents immediately after football games.

The Bremerton School District placed high school football coach Joseph Kennedy on administrative leave after he steadfastly disregarded directives not to (1) lead prayers with players in the locker room prior to games, and (2) kneel and pray on the fifty-yard line in view of students and parents immediately after games. Kennedy filed suit, alleging violation of his rights under the First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He sought an injunction compelling the district to (1) cease discriminating against him in violation of the First Amendment, (2) reinstate him as a football coach, and (3) allow him to kneel and pray on the fifty-yard line immediately after football games.