Wolman v. Walter
United States Supreme Court
433 U.S. 229 (1977)
- Written by Mary Phelan D'Isa, JD
Facts
A group of citizens and taxpayers of the United States and residents of Ohio (the group) (plaintiffs) challenged the constitutionality of an Ohio law that authorized various forms of aid to pupils in Ohio church-related elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the law allowed the state to provide nonpublic school students with books, instructional materials and equipment, standardized testing and scoring, diagnostic services, therapeutic services, and field-trip transportation. All disbursements to nonpublic schools had their equivalent disbursements for public schools, and the amount expended per nonpublic-school pupil could not exceed that expended per public-school pupil. The group alleged that the Ohio law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. A three-judge panel held that the statute was constitutional. The group appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Blackmun, J.)
Concurrence/Dissent (Stevens, J.)
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