No. 18-1195
Kendra Espinoza, et al. v. Montana Department of Revenue, et al.
Tags: constitutional-law equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise religion-clauses religious-schools school-choice student-aid
Key Terms:
DueProcess FirstAmendment
DueProcess FirstAmendment
Latest Conference:
2019-06-27
(distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)
Invalidation of a religiously neutral student-aid program due to inclusion of religious schools
Question Presented (OCR Extract)
QUESTION PRESENTED Does it violate the Religion Clauses or Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution to invalidate a generally available and religiously neutral student-aid program simply because the program affords students the choice of attending religious schools?
Docket Entries
2020-08-03
JUDGMENT ISSUED.
2020-08-03
MANDATE ISSUED.
2020-06-30
Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Roberts C. J., delivered the <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/18-1195_g314.pdf'>opinion</a> of the Court, in which Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Gorsuch, J., joined. Alito, J., and Gorsuch, J., filed concurring opinions. Ginsburg, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Kagan, J., joined. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Kagan, J., joined as to Part I. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
2020-01-22
Argued. For petitioners: Richard D. Komer, Arlington, Va.; and Jeffrey B. Wall, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Adam G. Unikowsky, Washington, D. C.
2020-01-13
Motion for leave to file amicus brief out of time filed by Agudath Israel of America DENIED.
2019-12-10
The record received from the U.S.D.C. Flathead County Dist. Court is electronically filed.
2019-12-09
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
2019-12-06
Reply of petitioners Kendra Espinoza, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2019-12-03
Record requested from the Supreme Court of Montana.
2019-11-26
CIRCULATED
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, et al. filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, et al. filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amicus curiae of Public Funds Public Schools filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of American Federation of Teachers, et al. filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of National School Boards Association, et al. filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of National Disability Rights Network, et al. filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of Religion Law Scholars filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amicus curiae of Montana Association of Rabbis filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amici curiae of Colorado, et al. filed.
2019-11-15
Brief amicus curiae of Tennessee Education Association filed.
2019-11-14
Brief amici curiae of Montana Constitutional Convention Delegates filed.
2019-11-14
Brief amicus curiae of Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, United Church of Christ filed.
2019-11-14
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
2019-11-14
Brief amicus curiae of State of Maine filed.
2019-11-13
Brief amici curiae of Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. filed.
2019-11-08
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.
2019-11-08
Brief of respondents Montana Department of Revenue, et al. filed.
2019-10-24
Motion for leave to file amicus curiae brief out of time filed by Agudath Israel of America.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Georgia Goal Scholarship Program, Inc. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Liberty Justice Center and American Federation for Children filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Alliance for Choice in Education filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Independence Institute filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Jerry and Kathy Armstrong, et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Rusty Bowers, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Center for Education Reform, et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Montana Family Foundation filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Justice and Freedom Fund, et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of 131 Current and Former State Legislators filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, et al. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Forge Youth Mentoring filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Americans for Prosperity and yes. every kid. filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed.
2019-09-18
Brief amici curiae of Senators Steve Daines, et al. filed.
2019-09-17
Brief amici curiae of Montana Catholic School Parents, et al. filed.
2019-09-17
Brief amici curiae of States of Oklahoma, et al. filed.
2019-09-17
Brief amicus curiae of The Honorable Scott Walker filed.
2019-09-17
Brief amicus curiae of The Cato Institute filed.
2019-09-17
Brief amici curiae of EdChoice, et al. filed.
2019-09-16
Brief amicus curiae of Opportunity Scholarship Fund filed.
2019-09-16
Brief amicus curiae of Pioneer Institute, Inc. filed.
2019-09-16
Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
2019-09-16
Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
2019-09-12
Brief amicus curiae of Mackinac Center for Public Policy filed.
2019-09-11
Brief of petitioners Kendra Espinoza, et al. filed.
2019-09-11
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
2019-09-11
Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Moral Law filed.
2019-07-29
Motion to extend the time to file respondents' brief on the merits granted and the time is extended to and including November 8, 2019.
2019-07-23
Motion for an extension of time to file respondents' brief on the merits filed.
2019-07-22
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Montana Department of Revenue, et al.
2019-07-16
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Kendra Espinoza, et al.
2019-07-16
Motion to extend the time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits granted and the time is extended to and including September 11, 2019.
2019-07-02
Motion for an extension of time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits filed.
2019-06-28
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by Pioneer Institute, Inc. GRANTED.
2019-06-28
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by The Cato Institute GRANTED.
2019-06-28
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Liberty Justice Center, et al. GRANTED.
2019-06-28
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by Georgia Goal Scholarship Program, Inc. GRANTED.
2019-06-28
Petition GRANTED.
2019-06-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/27/2019.
2019-06-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2019.
2019-05-28
Reply of petitioners Kendra Espinoza, et al. filed.
2019-05-15
Brief of respondents Montana Department of Revenue, et al. in opposition filed.
2019-04-15
Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
2019-04-15
Brief amicus curiae of Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization filed.
2019-04-15
Brief amicus curiae of Montana Family Foundation filed.
2019-04-15
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by The Cato Institute.
2019-04-15
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Liberty Justice Center, et al.
2019-04-12
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by Georgia Goal Scholarship Program, Inc.
2019-04-12
Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by Pioneer Institute, Inc. (4/18/2019)
2019-04-12
Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
2019-04-12
Brief amici curiae of EdChoice, et al. filed.
2019-04-12
Brief amici curiae of Jerry and Kathy Armstrong, et al. filed.
2019-04-12
Brief amicus curiae of The Honorable Scott Walker filed.
2019-04-11
Brief amicus curiae of Alliance for Choice in Education filed.
2019-04-11
Brief amicus curiae of Agudath Israel of America filed.
2019-04-08
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including May 15, 2019.
2019-04-04
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 15, 2019 to May 15, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-03-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 15, 2019)
Attorneys
131 Current and Former State Legislators
Agudath Israel of America
Mark J. Kurzmann — Kurzmann Law Offices, P.C., Amicus
Mark J. Kurzmann — Kurzmann Law Offices, P.C., Amicus
Alliance for Choice in Education
Ian Seth Speir — Nussbaum Speir PLLC, Amicus
Ian Seth Speir — Nussbaum Speir PLLC, Amicus
American Center for Law and Justice
American Federation for Children; Liberty Justice Center
Jeffrey Michael Schwab — Liberty Justice Center, Amicus
Jeffrey Michael Schwab — Liberty Justice Center, Amicus
American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, Montana Federation of Public Employees, and Montana Quality Education Coalition
Kevin K. Russell — Goldstein and Russell, P.C., Amicus
Kevin K. Russell — Goldstein and Russell, P.C., Amicus
Americans for Prosperity and yes. every kid.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, et al.
Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School
Allyson Ho — Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Allyson Ho — Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, et al.
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, et al.
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr. — Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr. — Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
Cato Institute
Ilya Shapiro — Cato Institute, Amicus
Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Center for Education Reform
Paul D. Clement — Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Amicus
Paul D. Clement — Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Amicus
Christian Legal Society, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, et al.
Colorado, et al.
Eric Reuel Olson — Solicitor General, Amicus
Eric Reuel Olson — Solicitor General, Amicus
Forge Youth Mentoring
Joshua Daniel Davey — McGuire Woods LLP, Amicus
Joshua Daniel Davey — McGuire Woods LLP, Amicus
Foundation for Moral Law
John Allen Eidsmoe — Foundation for Moral Law, Amicus
John Allen Eidsmoe — Foundation for Moral Law, Amicus
Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al.
Georgia Goal Scholarship Program, Inc.
Independence Institute
David Benjamin Kopel — Independence Institute, Amicus
David Benjamin Kopel — Independence Institute, Amicus
Jerry and Kathy Armstrong, Association of Christian Schools International and Pacific Legal Foundation
Jerry and Kathy Armstrong, Lashawn Robinson, Gwendolyn Samuel, Yi Fang Chen, and Pacific Legal Foundation
Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty
Kendra Espinoza, et al.
Richard Donen Komer — Institute for Justice, Petitioner
Richard Donen Komer — Institute for Justice, Petitioner
Liberty Justice Center and American Federation for Children
Brian Kirk Kelsey — Liberty Justice Center, Amicus
Brian Kirk Kelsey — Liberty Justice Center, Amicus
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Montana Association of Rabbis
Charles Rothfeld — Mayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Charles Rothfeld — Mayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Montana Catholic School Parents, et al.
Montana Constitutional Convention Delegates
Hyland Hunt — Deutsch Hunt, PLLC, Amicus
Hyland Hunt — Deutsch Hunt, PLLC, Amicus
Montana Department of Revenue, et al.
Adam G. Unikowsky — Jenner & Block LLP, Respondent
Adam G. Unikowsky — Jenner & Block LLP, Respondent
Montana Family Foundation
Anita Yvonne Milanovich — Milanovich Law, PLLC, Amicus
Anita Yvonne Milanovich — Milanovich Law, PLLC, Amicus
Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, United Church of Christ
National Disability Rights Network, et al.
Gregory M. Lipper — Clinton & Peed, Amicus
Gregory M. Lipper — Clinton & Peed, Amicus
National School Boards Association, et al.
Opportunity Scholarship Fund
Fred A. Leibrock — Phillips Murrah P.C., Amicus
Fred A. Leibrock — Phillips Murrah P.C., Amicus
Public Funds Public Schools
Reason Foundation and Individual Rights Foundation
Religion Law Scholars
Kirti Datla — Hogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus
Kirti Datla — Hogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus
Rusty Bowers, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, et al.
John Joseph Park Jr. — Law Offices of Jack Park, Amicus
John Joseph Park Jr. — Law Offices of Jack Park, Amicus
Senators Steve Daines, Tim Scott, John Kennedy, and Marsha Blackburn and Representative Greg Gianforte
Sarah Michelle Harris — Williams & Connolly LLP, Amicus
Sarah Michelle Harris — Williams & Connolly LLP, Amicus
State of Maine
State of Oklahoma
Mithun Mansinghani — Solicitor General, Amicus
Mithun Mansinghani — Solicitor General, Amicus
Tennessee Education Association
Richard L. Colbert — Kay Griffin, PLLC, Amicus
Richard L. Colbert — Kay Griffin, PLLC, Amicus
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
The Honorable Scott Walker
The Rutherford Institute
United States
Noel J. Francisco — Solicitor General, Amicus
Noel J. Francisco — Solicitor General, Amicus