Columbia Union College v. Clarke

527 U.S. 1013, 119 S. Ct. 2357, 144 L. Ed. 2d 252 (1999)

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Columbia Union College v. Clarke

United States Supreme Court
527 U.S. 1013, 119 S. Ct. 2357, 144 L. Ed. 2d 252 (1999)

Facts

The State of Maryland provided financial aid to private colleges through a program named the Sellinger program. Some of the colleges participating in the Sellinger program were affiliated with religious institutions. Columbia Union College (plaintiff) was a private college affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Columbia Union College was denied participation in the Sellinger program. Columbia Union College filed a lawsuit, alleging that the state violated its rights to free speech, free exercise, and equal protection. The district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of the state, finding that the state had a compelling governmental interest in ensuring that a pervasively sectarian college did not receive public funding. Columbia Union College filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking review of the appellate court’s decision. The U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition for a writ of certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning ()

Dissent (Thomas, J.)

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