October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1195
Can states exclude religious schools from public scholarship programs?
Parents seek to use tax-credit scholarships at religious schools. Montana officials argue state law bars this funding.
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
Komer argued the state cannot exclude religious schools.
Unikowsky argued the state constitution mandates this exclusion.
Wall argued the state court correctly applied state law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a state can deny public funds to religious schools. The dispute centers on Montana's no-aid clause. Parents claim this clause violates the Free Exercise Clause. Officials claim the clause protects state autonomy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 22, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
What each side wants
Parents want to use scholarships at religious schools.
Officials want to keep state funds out of religious schools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
What each side says
Parents argue the state discriminates against religion.
Officials argue the state constitution requires this exclusion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if secular parents face the same harm.
Justice Ginsburg questioned the parents' standing to sue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
Why it matters
This case defines state power over religious education funding. It determines if states can ban religious schools from public aid. The outcome shapes the scope of religious freedom rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
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 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-29
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.