Arizona Prayer Day Upheld by Court

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s proclamations declaring a state “day of prayer.”

Judge Eileen Willett granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice, meaning the court cannot be asked to rule on the same issue again. A U.S. District judge dismissed the same challenge in December by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The foundation claimed the proclamations violate a constitutional prohibition against government establishment of religion. Brewer issued a statement this week applauding the Superior Court for rejecting the lawsuit. Her office says every president since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation and governors of all 50 states issued similar proclamations last year.