The town of Great Falls will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn lower court rulings that prevent Town Council from using the name of Jesus Christ in prayers at meetings.
Council voted 6-1 Monday to appeal in the lawsuit brought by Great Falls resident Darla Wynne, a Wiccan high priestess. Wynne sued in 2001 to stop council from using Jesus’ name in prayers before meetings.
A federal judge ruled in August 2003 that the council could not refer to a specific deity in prayers.
A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., upheld the lower court ruling in July. The full court earlier this month refused to hear the town’s appeal.
After the latest council decision, Wynne expressed her disappointment, “I hope they feel it’s worth it.”
Her attorney, Herbert Buhl III, has filed a request for the town to pay about $38,000 in Wynne’s legal fees, she said. The Supreme Court costs will add $25,000, Wynne said.
Town attorney Brian Gibbons said the town’s insurance has covered the costs so far.