{"argument_date":"2005-03-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-03-02T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Staver argued the display contains a universally recognized symbol of law.","Mr. Staver noted the Ten Commandments occupy only one-tenth of the display.","Mr. Friedman stated the County posted the display three times in a year.","Mr. Clement compared the display to the creche in Lynch v. Donnelly."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-1"}]}],"caption":"McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union of Ky.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.638966Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"McCreary County wants to keep a Ten Commandments display. The ACLU argues the display violates the Constitution.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-03-02T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1693.html","primary_docket":"03-1693","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:45:50.620016Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["McCreary County posted a Ten Commandments display in its courthouse. The ACLU sued to remove it. The Sixth Circuit agreed with the ACLU. The County now asks the Supreme Court to reverse that lower-court action."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 2, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 1-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["McCreary County wants the Supreme Court to reverse the Sixth Circuit decision.","The ACLU wants the Supreme Court to affirm the Sixth Circuit decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["McCreary County argues the display serves a secular legal purpose.","The ACLU argues the display has a religious purpose."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked if a display with only the Ten Commandments is constitutional.","Justice Stevens asked if the County abandons its right to make religious displays."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-1"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of religious displays in government buildings. It affects how counties manage public spaces. It shapes the balance between religious expression and government neutrality."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 1-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-1"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1693-mccreary-county-v-american-civil-liberties-union-of-ky","term":"2004","title":"Does a Ten Commandments display in a courthouse violate the Establishment Clause?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1693.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}