Metzl v. Leininger
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
57 F.3d 618 (1995)
- Written by Mary Katherine Cunningham, JD
Facts
In 1941, the government of Illinois (defendant) made Good Friday a state holiday, causing state facilities to close for Good Friday. In 1942, the governor of Illinois issued a proclamation, which explained the legislature designated Good Friday as a holiday because the day had special meaning to Christians. In 1989, the legislature of Illinois rescinded the statute designating Good Friday as a state holiday. However, the legislature retained Good Friday as a school holiday, which required the state to pay teachers holiday pay. A public-school teacher (plaintiff) challenged the law under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In her motion for summary judgment, the public-school teacher objected to the use of taxes to pay teachers the required holiday pay. The district court granted the motion for summary judgment, finding that the statute violated the Establishment Clause. The district court also issued a permanent injunction, staying enforcement of the statute. The State of Illinois appealed to the Seventh Circuit.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Posner, J.)
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