October Term 2004 · Docket 03-9877
Does RLUIPA violate the Establishment Clause by easing prison burdens on religious exercise?
Prisoners argue the law unconstitutionally advances religion. The government argues it follows tradition by removing state-imposed burdens.
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. Clement argued the government does not violate the Establishment Clause when it removes burdens on religious exercise.
Mr. Goldberger stated the underlying facts involving the motion to dismiss are in serious dispute.
Mr. Cole argued RLUIPA directly and impermissibly advances religion in the unique prison environment.
Justice Stevens questioned whether federal money involvement lessens the burden of defending the statute under the Establishment Clause.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a federal law violates the Constitution. The law requires prisons to ease burdens on religious exercise. Prisoners claim this advances religion. The government claims this follows tradition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-19
What each side wants
Prisoners want the law struck down as unconstitutional.
The government wants the law upheld as constitutional.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
What each side says
Prisoners argue the law impermissibly advances religion in prisons.
The government argues easing burdens follows the best traditions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the Establishment Clause issue matches City of Boerne.
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if Congress can rewrite the Constitution differently than the Court did in Boerne.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-15
Why it matters
Prisoners face state-imposed burdens on religious exercise. The law requires officials to ease those burdens. This creates a unique incentive for religion in prisons. The outcome defines the limits of federal power over religious accommodation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
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 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-15
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 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 7-19
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.