Graduating seniors and their parents brought suit to prevent the school
district from permitting invocations and benedictions at graduation
ceremonies. The U.S. District Court ruled for the school district. The U.S. Court of Appeals
affirmed. The Court of Appeals held that: 1) the primary effect was
secular, 2) the invocation and benediction did not excessively entangle church and state, and
3) these acts did not constitute government endorsement of religion since
the seniors decided whether to have them or not and no one was coerced into
participating in a government directed religious exercise.