Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer
United States Supreme Court
582 U.S. 449, 137 S. Ct. 2012 (2017)
- Written by Rose VanHofwegen, JD
Facts
Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources (the department) (defendant) gave grant money to schools, daycares, and other nonprofits to resurface their playgrounds using rubber from recycled tires. Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. (Trinity Lutheran) (plaintiff) applied for a grant to resurface its daycare and preschool playground, but the department denied it solely because Trinity Lutheran was a church. The department’s policy categorically disqualified all religious organizations from the program because Missouri’s state constitution prohibited public funding of religion. Trinity Lutheran sued, arguing that the policy violated the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution. The district court dismissed the case under Locke v. Davey¸ 540 U.S. 712 (2004), which allowed a state to deny a student a scholarship because he wanted to use it to prepare for pastoral ministry. After the appellate court affirmed, the United States Supreme Court granted review.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Roberts, C.J.)
Concurrence (Breyer, J.)
Concurrence (Gorsuch, J.)
Concurrence (Thomas, J.)
Dissent (Sotomayor, J.)
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