October Term 2010 · Docket 09-987
Can taxpayers sue to block a neutral tax credit for private school scholarships?
the sides that brought the case seek to uphold a state tax credit. the opposing sides seek to strike it down as an Establishment Clause violation.
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
the sides that brought the case claim the Ninth Circuit erred on standing.
the sides that brought the case claim the Ninth Circuit erred on the merits.
the opposing sides claim the program directs funds to religious institutions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Arizona allows citizens to claim tax credits for donating to scholarship organizations. These organizations fund private school tuition. the sides that brought the case argue the law is neutral. the opposing sides argue it directs public funds to religious schools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to affirm the tax credit program.
the opposing sides want the Court to invalidate the tax credit program.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the law is neutral and relies on private choice.
the opposing sides argue the program violates the Establishment Clause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if a new system would be constitutional.
Justice Breyer asked if the Flast precedent is gone.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
Why it matters
The case defines taxpayer standing to challenge state tax credits. It determines whether neutral laws funding private education survive constitutional review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
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 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
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 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-3
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.