Hunton & Williams LLP helps pro bono client in public prayer case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed a lower court ruling that upholds the nonsectarian-prayer policy of the Fredericksburg, Va. City Council. The court disagreed with the claims of City Councilman Rev. Hashmel Turner, who asserted that he has a constitutional right to offer a sectarian prayer as the Council’s official opening prayer.

The City Council and Mayor were represented in the case on a pro bono basis by Bob Rolfe and Terence Rasmussen and by lawyers with People For the American Way Foundation.

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote the opinion for the Fourth Circuit panel that decided the case.