A Wiccan who had been barred from saying an opening prayer at meetings of a county board of supervisors has the right to pray there, a federal judge ruled Nov. 13.

U.S. District Court Judge Dennis W. Dohnal decided the Chesterfield County, Va., board discriminated against Cyndi Simpson when it told her she could not be on a list of clergy who deliver the board's invocations, the Associated Press reported.

Wiccans consider themselves witches, pagans or neo-pagans. They say their religion is based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons.

"Chesterfield's nonsectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition," County Attorney Steven L. Micas wrote in a letter to Simpson in September 2002.

The judge, based in Richmond, Va., said the board violated Simpson's constitutional right of free and equal expression of her religious beliefs but permitted Christians to practice their faith by delivering the "legislative prayer." Such prayers, used by a governing body, have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Micas did not return a call seeking comment after the ruling. Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed suit in December 2002 with the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on behalf of the 47-year-old woman.

"This is a tremendous victory for religious diversity," Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said in a statement. "The decision serves as an important reminder that government may not play favorites among religions. There are hundreds of different faith groups in America, and it's vital that officials not prefer some faiths over others." -(RNS)