Key Cases: Hashmel Turner

Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the City Council of Fredericksburg, Va., for adopting a prayer policy that discriminates against the rights of city council member Rev. Hashmel Turner to offer prayers according to his conscience before council meetings. 

On two separate occasions over the past several years, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has threatened to sue the city for allowing Rev. Turner to pray "in Jesus' name" during city council meetings. In November 2005, the Fredericksburg City Council yielded to the ACLU's demands and adopted a prayer policy which would render Rev. Turner's prayers "disorderly conduct" and subject him to punishment and fines.

But Rev. Turner refused to compromise his Christian beliefs by allowing the ACLU to dictate how he prays. That's when he turned to The Rutherford Institute for help in defending his First Amendment right to pray according to his conscience and religious beliefs.

“In the state our nation is in, and the world, my belief is that our nation and service personnel around the world need prayer. We should be asking for that protection and guidance,” Turner stated.

In filing suit against the City of Fredericksburg's City Council for its discriminatory policy, Institute attorneys have asked a federal court to declare that the Council's prayer policy is an unconstitutional violation of Rev. Turner's free speech and religious rights.