Federal appeals court to hear prayer case

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A federal appeals court will hear arguments on whether prayer should be allowed at the start of public meetings.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press ( bit.ly/ZUzgn4 ) reports the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit will hear the case on April 24. It stems from prayers said during meetings of the Hamilton County Commission in Tennessee, though the court allowed the Kentucky League of Cities to file a brief in the case since any ruling would affect municipalities there.

The plaintiffs, Brandon Jones and Tommy Coleman, filed suit over prayers said during commission meetings last June and asked U.S. District Judge Harry S. "Sandy" Mattice to issue an injunction stopping the practice.

Mattice declined, allowing the prayers to continue while the case continues through the judicial system.

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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com