Ocala Files Appeal After Federal Court Rules Prayer Vigils Unconstitutional, Other Florida Cities Rethink Their Events
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The city of Ocala has filed an appeal after a federal court ruled that its 2014 prayer vigil was unconstitutional. This decision has sparked a significant legal battle that could have far-reaching implications for cities across Florida and the nation.
The Federal Court Ruling]
On June 26, 2024, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan issued a 50-page decision declaring that the city of Ocala violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by organizing and carrying out a prayer vigil in the downtown square. The ruling came nearly a decade after the event, which was held amid a spate of shootings in the Ocala area.
Judge Corrigan’s decision emphasized that while individuals or religious groups are free to organize prayer vigils, the involvement of the city in conceiving, promoting, and conducting the event crossed the constitutional line. The judge noted that the vigil was advertised and completed through the actions of the mayor, the chief of police, and the Ocala Police Department. The court found that the vigils, although seemingly well-intentioned, blur the line between church and state.