540 U.S. 712 (2004). One-Sentence Takeaway: The Free Exercise Clause does not require states to fund religious instruction even when they fund comparable secular studies. Summary: In Locke, the Supreme Court rejected a free exercise challenge to a Washington state law that barred state scholarship aid from being used for a devotional theology degree. Although the […]
Articles Tagged: establishment clause
Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind
474 U.S. 481 (1986). One-Sentence Takeaway: Providing a state vocational rehabilitation grant to a blind student studying for the ministry did not violate the Establishment Clause, as the aid was neutral and directed by individual choice rather than government endorsement of religion. Summary: A 1986 U.S. Supreme Court opinion in which the Court unanimously held […]
American Legion v. American Humanist Association
588 U.S. ___ (2019). A 2019 United States Supreme Court opinion in which the Court held that, since the Peace Cross (a World War I memorial shaped after a Latin cross) had stood for decades without any controversy, it did not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. REFERENCE DESK Perrier-Bilbo v. United States, […]