{"argument_date":"2010-04-19T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-04-19T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","paragraphs":["Michael McConnell argued that Hastings' policy allows non-believers to lead Bible studies.","He claimed the policy is absurd and applies to the law school itself.","Paul Garre argued both lower courts decided the case on the all-comers premise.","He stated this premise was not disputed in the petition for certiorari."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-47"}]}],"caption":"Christian Legal Soc. Chapter of Univ. of Cal., Hastings College of Law v. Martinez","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.465440Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.493447Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Christian Legal Society argues Hastings violated free speech by requiring all-comers policies. Hastings argues it may limit funding to groups that admit all students.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-04-19T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-1371.html","primary_docket":"08-1371","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:11:48.986565Z","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":["Christian Legal Society seeks to keep its exclusive membership rules. Hastings wants to enforce its all-comers policy for funded groups."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 3-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Christian Legal Society wants to retain its exclusive membership rules while keeping school funding.","Hastings wants to enforce its all-comers policy as a condition for receiving school funding."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Christian Legal Society argues Hastings violated free speech by barring them from its forum for speech.","Hastings argues it may reserve funding and benefits for groups that choose to admit all students."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if Hastings treats CLS differently than other political clubs.","Justice Sotomayor asked if the exception applies only to religious groups or all discrimination types."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of student group funding. It determines whether schools can condition benefits on open membership policies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"}]},{"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 3, lines 45-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-47"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-1371-christian-legal-soc-chapter-of-univ-of-cal-hastings-college-of-law-v-martinez","term":"2009","title":"Can a law school deny funding to a student group that restricts membership by belief?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1371.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 29-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}