The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguably the most liberal and misguided federal court in the country, has issued a ruling that justifies the punishment of coaches for praying on public school football fields. The big reason? Because parents and teachers can see them doing so and therefore it's a violation not protected under the U.S. Constitution. More from Fox News:
A Washington state high school football coach who was punished for taking a knee at the 50-yard line for a post-game prayer violated the U.S. Constitution, according to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
A three-judge panel ruled the Bremerton School District was justified in suspending Coach Joe Kennedy after he took a knee and prayed silently at midfield after football games.
"When Kennedy kneeled and prayed on the fifty-yard line immediately after games while in view of students and parents, he spoke as a public employee, not as a private citizen, and his speech therefore was constitutionally unprotected," the 9th Circuit wrote.
Kennedy, who served as an assistant coach at Bremerton High School from 2008-2015, was ordered to refrain from bowing his head, taking a knee or doing anything that could be perceived as praying on public school property.
When Coach Kennedy prayed on the field, he did so voluntarily and never forced players to join him. His attorney responded to the ruling with the following statement.
Joe Kennedy's attorney statement after court ruled against Kennedy who prayed after football games @AmericaNewsroom pic.twitter.com/VpouvcHkoQ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 24, 2017
NFL tight end Benjamin Watson weighed in on the suspension of Kennedy when it happened back in 2015 and pointed out the hypocrisy in society when it comes to public prayer.
Blaze host Lawrence B. Jones, who is a former football player and the son of a pastor, called the ruling disturbing.
“IT’S CONCERNING”: @LawrenceBJones3 speaks out after court rules HS football coach’s on-field prayer not protected by the Constitution pic.twitter.com/CWiHvswXlL
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) August 24, 2017
The good news here is that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals gets overturned 80 percent of the time.