October Term 2008 · Docket 07-665
Can a city reject a private monument in a public park?
Pleasant Grove City wants to keep a Ten Commandments monument. Summum wants the city to accept its own monument.
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
Jay Sekulow argued the Tenth Circuit erred in forcing the city to accept the monument.
Ms. Harris argued the city denied access based on the content of the display.
Justice Roberts asked how visitors distinguish government speech from private speech.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The city argues it controls its own property. Summum argues the city must accept all private displays.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-33
What each side wants
Pleasant Grove City wants to keep the Ten Commandments monument and reject Summum's monument.
Summum wants the city to accept and erect its monument in the public park.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
What each side says
The city argues the First Amendment does not force it to accept private monuments.
Summum argues the city cannot select speech based on content or viewpoint.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if thirty-eight is the cut-off point.
Justice Kennedy asked if the monument was under the State's control previously.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
Why it matters
This case defines how cities manage public parks. It determines whether local governments can curate permanent displays. It affects the balance between private speech and government property control.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
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 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-23
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.