Injunction Against Student Speech Thrown Out on Appeal; Fifth Circuit Overturns Judge's Ruling Banning Prayer at Texas Graduation

SAN ANTONIO, June 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals just overturned federal district judge Fred Biery's ruling banning prayer at Medina Valley High School's graduation tomorrow night. Liberty Institute, which represented the class valedictorian Angela Hildenbrand, released the following statement:

"This is a complete victory for religious freedom and for Angela," said Kelly Shackelford, president/CEO of Liberty Institute.  "We are thrilled that she will be able to give her prayer without censorship in her valedictorian speech tomorrow night. No citizen has the right to ask the government to bind and gag the free speech of another citizen."

View Liberty Institute's previous news release and the Fifth Circuit's ruling.

Liberty Institute is a nonprofit policy and legal organization committed to protecting First Amendment and Constitutional freedoms. Just last week, the Institute successfully represented a Houston pastor banned from praying in Jesus' name at a Memorial Day event.

For more information, visit www.libertyinstitute.org.

SOURCE Liberty Institute