Lynch v. Donnelly
United States Supreme Court
465 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 1355 (1984)
- Written by Megan Petersen, JD
Facts
Every year during the Christmas holiday season, the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island (city) (defendant) built a large, public Christmas display. The display included traditional “secular” Christmas images such as Santa Claus and reindeer figures, as well as a religious crèche. The city originally spent public funds to acquire the display but subsequently spent nominal costs erecting and maintaining it each year. Donnelly (plaintiff) brought suit against the city’s mayor, Lynch (defendant), and the city in federal district court on the ground that the display violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The district court agreed and held the display unconstitutional, and the court of appeals affirmed. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Burger, C.J.)
Concurrence (O’Connor, J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
Dissent (Blackmun, J.)
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