October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1371
Can a law school deny funding to a student group that restricts membership by belief?
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.
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
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.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Christian Legal Society seeks to keep its exclusive membership rules. Hastings wants to enforce its all-comers policy for funded groups.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-17
What each side wants
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
What each side says
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
What the justices asked
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of student group funding. It determines whether schools can condition benefits on open membership policies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
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 45-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-47
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 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-3
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.