RESPONDENT:Chambers
LOCATION:Residence of Senator Ernie Chambers
DOCKET NO.: 82-23
DECIDED BY: Burger Court (1981-1986)
LOWER COURT: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
CITATION: 463 US 783 (1983)
ARGUED: Apr 20, 1983
DECIDED: Jul 05, 1983
ADVOCATES:
Herbert J. Friedman – Argued the cause for the respondents
Shanler D. Cronk – Argued the cause for the petitioners
Facts of the case
Ernest Chambers as a representative of Nebraska Senate brought the suit before the court arguing to change the opening process of legislative practice. It consisted of the prayer proclaimed by a chaplain provided by the authority at the beginning part of the Senate session. The plaintiff claimed that the public funds paid this practice and it could be considered as the waste of money and breach of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.