October Term 2019 · Docket 19-267
Can a secular court review a religious school's dismissal of a teacher?
The dispute centers on whether a secular court can review a religious school's decision to fire a teacher.
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
The school argues separation of church and state protects its hiring choices.
The teacher argues the proposed religious function test creates legal problems.
Justice Ginsburg asked who among school employees are not ministers.
Justice Roberts asked if the argument applies to non-Catholic teachers.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-55 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-39
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if a secular court can review a religious school's dismissal of a teacher.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on May 11, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-31
What each side wants
The school wants the court to dismiss the teacher's claim.
The teacher wants the court to allow her claim to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
What each side says
The school argues the government cannot interfere with religious hiring decisions.
The teacher argues the school's religious function test creates legal problems.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked how a secular court determines if duties are religious.
Justice Breyer asked what protections religious organizations need beyond existing statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-55 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-39
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-31
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between religious autonomy and employment law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
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 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-55 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-39
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-31
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 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-23
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.