Despite ACLU qualms, court holds prayer circle in Memphis

Despite qualms expressed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Shelby County Juvenile Court officials continued with a planned "prayer circle" outside their Downtown courthouse Tuesday afternoon.

The event, which organizers hoped would have enough people to link arms and circle the Juvenile Court building at 616 Adams, attracted about 50 people. Four Christian pastors and one member of the Jewish clergy spoke or prayed; no one from other faiths spoke.

Organizers said the event was needed to "encourage the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County to pray for our youth involved in the juvenile system and the public servants who work within it."

ACLU officials called the event "problematic" not only because it was held on the steps of a public building, but also because it was advertised through an official Shelby County email that contained the Juvenile Court seal. Leon Gray, a special assistant to Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael, sent that email from his county account last Friday to media members to drum up coverage for the event.