In 2014, FFRF filed a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education because of their unconstitutional practice of opening meetings with sectarian prayer, bible reading, and proselytizing. This lawsuit was on behalf of 22 local students, parents and employees who objected to the practice. In 2016, a U.S. district court ruled in FFRF’s favor. This decision was unanimously upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018, affirming that the board’s actions violated the First Amendment. As a result, the school district was ordered to pay more than $275,000 in FFRF’s legal fees.
The Chino Board of Education is now attempting to end a court injunction that prohibits board members from opening their public meetings with prayer. The board filed a motion to reopen the case on July 31, 2025, arguing that the injunction issued in 2016 by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California should be lifted. The board incorrectly claims the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District means that the legal basis for the district court order no longer exists.
FFRF is represented by Attorneys Matthew Murray and Lisa Demidovich of Altshuler Berzon and Attorney Rich Bolton of Boardman Clark. Legal Director Patrick Elliott and Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence are also serving as co-counsel.
