School Official Cleared of Contempt Charge in Prayer Case

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, FL (LifeSiteNews.com) - After a seven and a half hour hearing in federal court, federal District Judge Casey Rodgers ruled on Friday that Michelle Winkler, a clerical assistant for the Santa Rosa County School District, would not be held in civil contempt over her husband's prayer at an awards banquet.

Last year the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Santa Rosa County School District, claiming some of the teachers and administration endorsed religion. The suit was filed on behalf of two students, who said that the teachers were promoting their views of religion. In response, Judge Rodgers entered a broadly worded injunction in January 2009 regarding prayer and religious activities of school employees.

Subsequently, Winkler attended a privately funded event off campus at a nearby Naval base, held after school hours to honor non-instructional employees of the school district. She invited her husband, who is not employed by the school, to read a prayer blessing she wrote for the honorees.

The ACLU heard about the incident and went to court, claiming that Winkler should be held in civil contempt of the court order. The ACLU claimed they had a "rock-solid case" against Winkler. However, Judge Rodgers on Friday ruled against the ACLU, concluding that Michelle Winkler's husband's prayer at a voluntary gathering outside of school did not violate the court's order.

Winkler was represented by Liberty Counsel attorneys. On September 17, Liberty Counsel will be back in court defending Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman on charges of criminal contempt over a blessing of the meal at a separate luncheon to honor private contributors to the athletic program (find out more about this latter case here).

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: "The wheels came off the ACLU's steamroller. While we are pleased with the ruling, we are saddened that a wonderful woman had to spend a day in court, with the ACLU's crosshairs aimed at her back.

"Prayer is neither contemptuous nor criminal. It is outrageous that the ACLU sought civil contempt charges against an outstanding woman whose husband prayed a beautiful prayer at a privately sponsored event held off campus. The ACLU needs to take a good dose of the First Amendment and call us in the morning."

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