Jessica Salazar v. United States

In the criminal trial of Jessica Salazar, the prosecutor placed repeated emphasis on Ms. Salazar’s request for a prayer. It was the first line of the prosecution’s opening statement, and it was repeated many times in its closing. The Ninth Circuit held on de novo review this was no error—that prayer is evidence of a guilty mind. This case presents grave concern regarding an individual’s right to religious freedom: What place, if any, does an individual’s religious belief have in a criminal case? Because the Ninth Circuit diverged from the circuit courts on this important question, this Court should grant certiorari and resolve the issue. prefix