October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1500
Can Texas display the Ten Commandments on its Capitol grounds?
A man challenges a Texas monument. The state defends its placement.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Chemerinsky argued the monument conveys a theistic message.
Mr. Clement argued the text serves as a legal code.
Justice Scalia questioned the consistency of the religious argument.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a state can display a religious text on public land. The dispute centers on the meaning of the monument.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 2, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-21
What each side wants
The man wants the monument removed from public land.
The state wants the monument to remain in place.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
What each side says
The man argues the display sends a religious message.
The state argues the display has secular legal history.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked about similar displays in courtrooms.
Justice Breyer asked how religious content affects the vote.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of state religious displays. It shapes how governments use public property for symbols.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-17
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.