Bruce A. Hake v. Carroll County, Maryland
We sued the Carroll County Board of Commissioners for delivering sectarian prayers at board meetings, causing the U.S. District Court to permanently bar them from doing so.
The Supreme Court and the Fourth Circuit long made clear that elected officials cannot constitutionally lead the public in prayers as part of official activities.
Former AHA Legal Director and Senior Counsel
selected case documents
- Complaint
- Brief in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
- Motion for Contempt
- Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Contempt
- Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
- Certificate of Compliance, Motion to Compel
- Granting of Motion to Compel
- Supplemental Memorandum in Support of Summary Judgment
- Plaintiff's Reply to Defendant's Memmorandum
- Letter to the Court
- Final Order
Press Releases
August 14, 2014
Federal Court orders Carroll County Commissioners to Comply with Records Requests
June 10, 2014
American Humanist Association Files Summary Judgment Motion Against Carroll County Commissioners
April 2, 2014
AHA Files Motion of Contempt Against Carroll County Commissioners for Sectarian Prayers
March 27, 2014
Update: County Official Defies Federal Court Prayer Order, American Humanist Association Issues Warning
May 1, 2013
American Humanist Association Sues Carroll County Commissioners over Christian Prayers at Meetings