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Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
What's at Stake
Whether the U.S. Constitution forces states to fund religious education in violation of longstanding state constitutional rules barring taxpayer support for religious activities.
Summary
The Supreme Court has previously ruled that states need not provide educational funding for “essentially religious endeavors” even as part of an otherwise neutral scholarship program. The Court explained that there is a “play in the joints” between the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause and that states have a clear historical interest in avoiding taxpayer support for religious education. This case will test that principle by deciding whether the Montana Supreme Court properly relied on the state constitution to strike down a scholarship program that would have diverted millions of government dollars to religious schooling.
Legal Documents
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11/15/2019
Religious and Civil Rights Organizations Amicus Brief
Date Filed: 11/15/2019
Download DocumentPress Releases
ACLU Comment on Supreme Court Ruling in Religious Freedom Case