Judge Casey Rodgers was not entirely convinced by Santa Rosa County (FL) Principal Frank Lay's argument that he was not intentionally violating the court's order when he asked for prayer at a Pace High School event. In the end, though, she found Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman not guilty of contempt of court.
She told him that as Pace’s principal he had the responsibility to set a good example, and by allowing the prayer at a school function he set an unfortunate precedent.
“At the end of the day, I do have some doubts about whether you intended to comply (with the injunction),” Rodgers said.
However, she said that too much ambiguity existed as to whether Lay intentionally violated the court order or simply forgot about it, as the defense argued during the trial.
