Franklin Lawsuit Questions Prayer At Public Meetings

Would you object to your Town Meeting starting with a Christian prayer? 

For the past several years that's exactly what's happened prior to Town Meeting business in the town of Franklin, and Marilyn Hackett says she's had enough.

Hackett and the Vermont chapter of the ACLU are suing the town and its moderator, Timothy Magnant, in Vermont Superior Court for allowing Pastor Jason McConnell to recite the invocation before Town Meeting business each year.

Marilyn Hackett joined VPR's Mitch Wertlieb in our Colchester studios along with attorney Bernie Lambek, who's acting as co-counsel on the case. Hackett says she complained about the prayer for years before deciding it was time to settle the issue in court.

Click "Listen" to hear the interview.