October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1088
Can Maine deny tuition aid to religious schools?
Parents seek aid for religious schools. Maine denies it based on religion.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Bindas argued the exclusion discriminates against religion.
Taub argued the specific school does not want the money.
Stewart argued the lower court decision should stand.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- 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 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-49
- 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 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Maine offers tuition aid to private schools. It excludes religious schools. Parents argue this violates the Constitution. Maine argues it can exclude them.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2021.
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 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want Maine to pay for their religious school choice.
Maine wants to keep its law excluding religious schools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the exclusion discriminates against religion.
Maine argues it can exclude religious schools from aid.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked what happens if a school refuses gay teachers.
Justice Kagan asked if the case exists if schools refuse aid.
Official sources for this section
- 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 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
Why it matters
This case defines state aid for religious education. It affects parents choosing private schools. It shapes the role of religion in public funding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-49
- 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 21-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 122, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 122, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 13-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.