Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe, Individually and as Next Friend for Her Minor Children, Jane and John Doe, et al.

Decided June 19, 2000. John Paul Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 99-62 · 530 U.S. 290 (2000) · Cited 570 times

Holding

The District’s policy permitting student-led, student-initiated prayer at football games violates the Establishment Clause.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 6–3.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Lee v. Weisman · 505 U.S. 577 (1992)
• Lemon v. Kurtzman · 403 U.S. 602 (1971)
• Wallace v. Jaffree · 472 U.S. 38 (1985)
• Bowen v. Kendrick · 487 U.S. 589 (1988)
• Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth · 529 U.S. 217 (2000)
• Lynch v. Donnelly · 465 U.S. 668 (1984)
• Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board v. Pinette · 515 U.S. 753 (1995)
• Board of Ed. of Westside Community Schools (Dist. 66) v. Mergens · 496 U.S. 226 (1990)
• Perry Education Ass'n v. Perry Local Educators' Ass'n · 460 U.S. 37 (1983)
• Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of University of Virginia · 515 U.S. 819 (1995)
• Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District · 508 U.S. 384 (1993)
• Mueller v. Allen · 463 U.S. 388 (1983)
• Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah · 508 U.S. 520 (1993)
• United States v. Salerno · 481 U.S. 739 (1987)
• Ward v. Rock Against Racism · 491 U.S. 781 (1989)
• West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette · 319 U.S. 624 (1943)
• Agostini v. Felton · 521 U.S. 203 (1997)
• Widmar v. Vincent · 454 U.S. 263 (1981)
• Boos v. Barry · 485 U.S. 312 (1988)
• Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier · 484 U.S. 260 (1988)
• Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser · 478 U.S. 675 (1986)
• Larson v. Valente · 456 U.S. 228 (1982)
• Edwards v. Aguillard · 482 U.S. 578 (1987)
• Engel v. Vitale · 370 U.S. 421 (1962)
• Marsh v. Chambers · 463 U.S. 783 (1983)
• Hunt v. McNair · 413 U.S. 734 (1973)
• Los Angeles Police Department v. United Reporting Publishing Corp. · 528 U.S. 32 (1999)
• Committee for Public Education & Religious Liberty v. Regan · 444 U.S. 646 (1980)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Kennedy v. Bremerton School Dist. · 597 U.S. 507 (2022)
• McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union of Ky. · 545 U.S. 844 (2005)
• Van Orden v. Perry · 545 U.S. 677 (2005)
• Town of Greece v. Galloway · 572 U.S. 565 (2014)
• Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow · 542 U.S. 1 (2004)
• Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. · 551 U.S. 587 (2007)
• Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue · 591 U.S. 464 (2020)
• Trump v. Hawaii · 585 U.S. 667 (2018)
• Good News Club v. Milford Central School · 533 U.S. 98 (2001)
• Salazar v. Buono · 559 U.S. 700 (2010)
• Carson v. Makin · 596 U.S. 767 (2022)
• Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Comm'n. · 605 U.S. 238 (2025)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2000). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).