Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia Inc. v. Comer
Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15-577 | 8th Cir. |
Apr 19, 2017 Tr.Aud. |
Jun 26, 2017 | 7-2 | Roberts | OT 2016 |
Holding: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' express policy of denying grants to any applicant owned or controlled by a church, sect or other religious entity violated the rights of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc., under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment by denying the church an otherwise available public benefit on account of its religious status.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 7-2, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on June 26, 2017. Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court, except as to Footnote 3. Justices Kennedy, Alito and Kagan joined that opinion in full, and Justices Thomas and Gorsuch joined except as to Footnote 3. Justice Thomas filed an opinion concurring in part, in which Justice Gorsuch joined. Justice Gorsuch filed an opinion concurring in part, in which Justice Thomas joined. Justice Breyer filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Symposium: Playground resurfacing case provides soft landing for state "no aid" provisions (Alice O'Brien)
- Symposium: The justices reach broad agreement, but on a narrow question (Fred Yarger)
- Symposium: The Constitution provides a level playing field for people of faith (Hillary Byrnes)
- Symposium: The crumbling wall separating church and state (Erwin Chemerinsky)
- Symposium: Trinity Lutheran and Zelman – Saved by footnote 3 or a dream come true for voucher advocates? (Frank Ravitch)
- Symposium: Court ruling bolsters religious liberty… beyond the playground (Nathan Diament)
- Symposium: Bad news from Trinity Lutheran – Only two justices support the establishment clause (Leslie Griffin)
- Symposium: Putting some limits on the "play in the joints" (Erin Morrow Hawley)
- A "view" from the courtroom: A day for drama on the bench (Mark Walsh)
- Opinion analysis: Church prevails in funding dispute (Amy Howe)
- And then there were six – the remaining cases (Amy Howe)
- And then there were nine – the remaining decisions (Amy Howe)
- Argument analysis: Justices leaning toward a ruling for Trinity Lutheran on the merits (Amy Howe)
- Both sides urge court to go ahead in church-state case (Amy Howe)
- Missouri reverses course on aid to religious organizations (UPDATED) (Amy Howe)
- Argument preview: More than just a playground dispute (Amy Howe)
- Court releases April calendar (Amy Howe)
- Justices release March calendar (Amy Howe)
- Symposium: Gay rights, religious liberty and … tire scraps? The inclusive Fourteenth Amendment path in Trinity Lutheran (Mark Rienzi)
- Symposium: Religious freedom, not religious discrimination (Richard B. Katskee)
- Symposium: Confronting a nativist past; protecting school-choice’s future (Rick Garnett)
- Symposium: Not on the taxpayers’ dime (Daniel Mach)
- Symposium: Ban on state funding of churches protects independence (K. Hollyn Hollman)
- Symposium: A soft landing at the Supreme Court (Hannah Smith and Luke Goodrich)
- Introduction: More than just a playground dispute (Amy Howe)