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Not Guilty - Pace High Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman |
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 Two Pace High School officials walked out of the Federal District Court House in Pensacola Thursday, Sept. 17, cleared of contempt charges by U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers after an emotional trial brought to court by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two students challenging the First Amendment. The suit charged that Pace High Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman willingly violated a federal court order prohibiting school officials from offering prayer during school activities.
The ACLU and the school had been at opposite ends of the prayer debate for years before the Union finally brought the issue to court. The fact that the two men were even brought to trial over the matter had festered a growing protest throughout the Pace community, and hundreds of supporters – including students – showed up at the court house Thursday to show their support for the school officials. Some wore t-shirts, others waived signs of support. In the end, Judge Rodgers ruled that the defense had not proven their case that the two men had intentionally violated the court order. But the verdict didn’t clear up the First Amendment issue; despite the not guilty verdict, Rodgers said the promoting of religion by school officials “will not be tolerated.” Both men could have faced time in jail or heavy fines had the verdict gone the other way. As they made their way out of the court house with their lawyers Thursday and waved to the hundreds of supports who cheered the verdict, the two fought back tears of relief. The two had been under fire since February when an investigation into the allegations came to the forefront. School secretary Michelle Winkler was cleared of similar charges last month.
EscaRosa Press/photo by Al Graham 2009 (c) |
