Cambridge Christian Schools v. Florida High School Athletic Association

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) forbade Cambridge Christian School from leading a prayer at football games conducted by the Association, and the school argued this violated free speech and burdened its religious freedom.

In November 2019, the Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court’s dismissal of the free-speech and free-exercise claims. During the second appeal to the Eleventh Circuit (after the district ruled for the FHSAA on summary judgment), in October 2022 we joined partners in filing an amicus brief arguing that it was not a free-exercise violation to deny the prayer, and that it would be an establishment clause violation to permit it. Oral argument was held in June 2023.

In September 2024, the court affirmed the grant of summary judgment to FHSAA on both the free-speech and free-exercise claims on government-speech grounds. It also vacated the district-court’s judgment in favor of the FHSAA on the declaratory- and injunctive-relief claims and instead instructed the court to dismiss those claims for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.

The Latest: A petition for the Supreme Court to review the case was filed on June 6, 2025. The Supreme Court denied review in November 2025, letting the Eleventh Circuit decision stand.