October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1693
Does a Ten Commandments display in a courthouse violate the Establishment Clause?
McCreary County wants to keep a Ten Commandments display. The ACLU argues the display violates the Constitution.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. 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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
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 1-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 1-9
What each side wants
McCreary County wants the Supreme Court to reverse the Sixth Circuit decision.
The ACLU wants the Supreme Court to affirm the Sixth Circuit decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
What each side says
McCreary County argues the display serves a secular legal purpose.
The ACLU argues the display has a religious purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
What the justices asked
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-1
Why it matters
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
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 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-1
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 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-7
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.