Home > Great American Court Cases > Engel v. Vitale

Legal Citation: 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

Petitioner
Steven L. Engel, et al.

Respondent
William J. Vitale, et al.

Petitioner's Claim
That an official state prayer, even though it is nondenominational and voluntary, violates the First Amendment prohibition against state establishment of religion.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner
William J. Butler

Chief Lawyer for Respondent
Bertram B. Daiker

Justices for the Court
Hugo Lafayette Black (writing for the Court), William J. Brennan, Jr., Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas, John Marshall Harlan II, Earl Warren

Justices Dissenting
Potter Stewart (Felix Frankfurter and Byron R. White did not participate)

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
25 June 1962

Decision
The Supreme Court declared that the creation of an official...