The prayers can continue at the Hamilton county commission meetings, for now anyway.
That's the ruling from a federal judge.
He refused to issue a temporary injunction stopping the prayers until a lawsuit could be decided.
Judge Sandy Mattice indicated by his ruling that he could find no reason to issue a temporary injunction to stop the prayers.
The commission allows prayers by any religious group that wants to sign-up.
PASTOR CALVIN NUNLEY /JUNE 28, 2012
"I thank you for the courage they have shown in this meeting."
The 37-page ruling from Federal District Judge Sandy Mattice refused to halt the mostly-Christian prayers before commission meetings.
The judge said, in effect, the commission is charged with protecting the rights of citizens, and that it's revised policy of allowing religious groups to sign-up on a rotating basis for a chance to give the invocation...is acceptable.
But the decision only affects the request for a temporary injunction..not the actual case filed by UTC students Tommy Coleman and Brandon Jones last June.
TOMMY COLEMAN, FILED SUIT AGAIN COUNTY "We are planning ....An appeal of the injunction to the 6th court of appeals immediately. "
Coleman's attorney Robin Flores tells WDEF News 12 that there are strong reasons by Coleman and Jones may eventually win their case.
ROBIN FLORES, ATTORNEY FOR COLEMAN AND JONES "We put on a humanist, we put on an atheist, we put on a Muslim during our hearing. We thought that was enough..and those individuals all felt left out."
Chattanoogans we spoke with who've kept up with the controversy, were not sympathetic with the position by Jones and Coleman that the commission should just have a moment of silence.
CARLA LEWIS, CHATTNAOOGA " I think the majority should rule..they should be allowed to say a prayer if they want to."
JENNIE PARHAM, CHATTANOOGA "I think its good! If people want to say a prayer they should be able to."
JAMIE HUGHES, CHATTANOOGA "Oh, I'm definitely for prayer, a moment of silence..however you got to do it..I think it's a good thing."
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which threatened action against the hamilton county commission earlier this year, had no connection with the lawsuit filed by the two students.
Judge Mattice has ordered both sides to be in court on October 2nd to discuss the lawsuit.
