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Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
24-154 Wis. Mar 31, 2025 Jun 5, 2025 9-0 Sotomayor OT 2024

Holding: The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision denying Catholic Charities Bureau a tax emption available to religious entities under Wisconsin law on the grounds that they were not “operated primarily for religious purposes” because they neither engaged in proselytization nor limited their charitable services to Catholics violated the First Amendment.

Judgment: Reversed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Sotomayor on June 5, 2025. Justices Thomas and Jackson filed concurring opinions.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
05/28/2024Application (23A1067) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 12, 2024 to August 11, 2024, submitted to Justice Barrett.
05/30/2024Application (23A1067) granted by Justice Barrett extending the time to file until August 11, 2024.
08/09/2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 12, 2024)
08/23/2024Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 12, 2024 to November 8, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
08/27/2024Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 8, 2024.
09/12/2024Brief amici curiae of Religious Liberty Scholars filed.
09/12/2024Brief amici curiae of The Catholic Conferences of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota filed.
09/12/2024Brief amici curiae of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, et al. filed.
09/12/2024Brief amicus curiae of Wisconsin State Legislature filed.
09/12/2024Brief amicus curiae of By The Hand Club For Kids filed.
09/12/2024Brief amicus curiae of Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty filed.
09/12/2024Brief amicus curiae of Wisconsin Catholic Conference filed.
09/12/2024Brief amici curiae of International Society for Krishna Consciousness and the Sikh Coalition filed.
11/08/2024Brief of respondents Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, et al. in opposition filed.
11/14/2024Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
11/18/2024Reply of petitioners Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
11/19/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/6/2024.
12/09/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/13/2024.
12/13/2024Petition GRANTED.
12/16/2024The order granting the petition for a writ of certiorari is amended as follows: The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to Question 1 presented by the petition.
01/27/2025Brief of petitioners Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc., et al. filed.
01/27/2025Joint appendix filed (Jan. 28, 2025--reprint of paper copies only). (Statement of costs filed)
01/28/2025Brief amicus curiae of World Faith Foundation filed.
01/30/2025Brief amicus curiae of Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty filed.
01/31/2025Brief amici curiae of The Catholic Conferences of Illinois, et al. filed.
01/31/2025Brief amicus curiae of Professor Christopher C. Lund filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of Catholic Charities USA filed.
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Maranatha Baptist University, et al. filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of City on a Hill Legal Ministry filed.
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Evangelical Council For Financial Accountability, et al. filed.
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Religiously Affiliated Universities, et al. filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of New York State Catholic Conference filed.
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Eleven Major Religious Denominations filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of Wisconsin State Legislature filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of Professor Nathan S. Chapman filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of Wisconsin Catholic Conference filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of By The Hand filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of First Liberty Institute filed.
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed.
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of International Society for Krishna Consciousness filed.
02/03/2025Amicus brief of Religious Liberty Scholars not accepted for filing. (To be corrected February 6, 2025)
02/03/2025Brief amici curiae of Religious Liberty Scholars filed. (Corrected)
02/03/2025Brief amicus curiae of National Legal Foundation filed.
02/10/2025SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, March 31, 2025.
02/12/2025Record requested from the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
02/19/2025CIRCULATED
02/26/2025Brief of respondents Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2025Record received from the Supreme Court of Wisconsin and available with the Clerk.
03/04/2025Motion of the Deputy Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
03/04/2025Brief amici curiae of Economic Policy Institute, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/05/2025Brief amicus curiae of Freedom From Religion Foundation filed. (Distributed)
03/05/2025Brief amicus curiae of American Atheists, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
03/05/2025Brief amicus curiae of International Municipal Lawyers Association filed. (Distributed)
03/05/2025Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations filed. (Distributed)
03/05/2025Brief amici curiae of Service Employees International Union, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/21/2025Motion of the Deputy Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
03/21/2025Reply of petitioners Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/31/2025Argued. For petitioners: Eric C. Rassbach, Washington, D. C.; and Curtis E. Gannon, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Colin T. Roth, Assistant Attorney General, Madison, Wis.
06/05/2025Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Thomas, J., and Jackson, J., filed concurring opinions.