No. 18-1195

Kendra Espinoza, et al. v. Montana Department of Revenue, et al.

Lower Court: Montana
Docketed: 2019-03-14
Status: Judgment Issued
Type: Paid
Amici (64)Relisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: constitutional-law equal-protection establishment-clause first-amendment free-exercise religion-clauses religious-schools school-choice student-aid
Key Terms:
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
Steven Werner FitschenNational Legal Foundation, Amicus
Steven Werner FitschenNational Legal Foundation, Amicus
Agudath Israel of America
Mark J. KurzmannKurzmann Law Offices, P.C., Amicus
Mark J. KurzmannKurzmann Law Offices, P.C., Amicus
Alliance for Choice in Education
Ian Seth SpeirNussbaum Speir PLLC, Amicus
Ian Seth SpeirNussbaum Speir PLLC, Amicus
American Center for Law and Justice
Jay Alan SekulowAmerican Center for Law and Justice, Amicus
Jay Alan SekulowAmerican Center for Law and Justice, Amicus
American Federation for Children; Liberty Justice Center
Jeffrey Michael SchwabLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Jeffrey Michael SchwabLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, Montana Federation of Public Employees, and Montana Quality Education Coalition
Kevin K. RussellGoldstein and Russell, P.C., Amicus
Kevin K. RussellGoldstein and Russell, P.C., Amicus
Americans for Prosperity and yes. every kid.
Cynthia Fleming CrawfordCause of Action Institute, Amicus
Cynthia Fleming CrawfordCause of Action Institute, Amicus
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, et al.
Alexander J. LuchenitserAmericans United for Separation of Church and State, Amicus
Alexander J. LuchenitserAmericans United for Separation of Church and State, Amicus
Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School
Allyson HoGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Allyson HoGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, et al.
Steven Keith GreenWillamette University College of Law, Amicus
Steven Keith GreenWillamette University College of Law, Amicus
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, et al.
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr.Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
Frederick W. Claybrook Jr.Claybrook, LLC, Amicus
Cato Institute
Ilya ShapiroCato Institute, Amicus
Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Anthony Thomas CasoCenter for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Amicus
Anthony Thomas CasoCenter for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Amicus
Center for Education Reform
Paul D. ClementKirkland & Ellis LLP, Amicus
Paul D. ClementKirkland & Ellis LLP, Amicus
Christian Legal Society, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, et al.
Kimberlee Wood ColbyChristian Legal Society, et al., Amicus
Kimberlee Wood ColbyChristian Legal Society, et al., Amicus
Colorado, et al.
Eric Reuel OlsonSolicitor General, Amicus
Eric Reuel OlsonSolicitor General, Amicus
EdChoice
Leslie Davis HinerEdChoice, Amicus
Leslie Davis HinerEdChoice, Amicus
Russell Charles MenyhartTaft Stettinius & Hollister, Amicus
Russell Charles MenyhartTaft Stettinius & Hollister, Amicus
Forge Youth Mentoring
Joshua Daniel DaveyMcGuire Woods LLP, Amicus
Joshua Daniel DaveyMcGuire Woods LLP, Amicus
Foundation for Moral Law
John Allen EidsmoeFoundation for Moral Law, Amicus
John Allen EidsmoeFoundation for Moral Law, Amicus
Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al.
Andrew Lewis SeidelFreedom From Religion Foundation, Amicus
Andrew Lewis SeidelFreedom From Religion Foundation, Amicus
Georgia Goal Scholarship Program, Inc.
James Patrick Kelly IIISolidarity Ctr./Law & Justice, Amicus
James Patrick Kelly IIISolidarity Ctr./Law & Justice, Amicus
Independence Institute
David Benjamin KopelIndependence Institute, Amicus
David Benjamin KopelIndependence Institute, Amicus
Jerry and Kathy Armstrong, Association of Christian Schools International and Pacific Legal Foundation
Ethan Winfred BlevinsPacific Legal Foundation, Amicus
Ethan Winfred BlevinsPacific Legal Foundation, Amicus
Jerry and Kathy Armstrong, Lashawn Robinson, Gwendolyn Samuel, Yi Fang Chen, and Pacific Legal Foundation
Ethan Winfred BlevinsPacific Legal Foundation, Amicus
Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty
Thomas William Parker DouglasDouglas Law PLLC, Amicus
Thomas William Parker DouglasDouglas Law PLLC, Amicus
Justice and Freedom Fund, et al.
James L. Hirsen — Amicus
James L. Hirsen — Amicus
Kendra Espinoza, et al.
Richard Donen KomerInstitute for Justice, Petitioner
Richard Donen KomerInstitute for Justice, Petitioner
Liberty Justice Center and American Federation for Children
Brian Kirk KelseyLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Brian Kirk KelseyLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Patrick J. WrightMackinac Center for Public Policy, Amicus
Patrick J. WrightMackinac Center for Public Policy, Amicus
Montana Association of Rabbis
Charles RothfeldMayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Charles RothfeldMayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Montana Catholic School Parents, et al.
Andrea Marie Picciotti-BayerCatholic Association Foundation, Amicus
Andrea Marie Picciotti-BayerCatholic Association Foundation, Amicus
Montana Constitutional Convention Delegates
Hyland HuntDeutsch Hunt, PLLC, Amicus
Hyland HuntDeutsch Hunt, PLLC, Amicus
Montana Department of Revenue, et al.
Adam G. UnikowskyJenner & Block LLP, Respondent
Adam G. UnikowskyJenner & Block LLP, Respondent
Montana Family Foundation
Anita Yvonne MilanovichMilanovich Law, PLLC, Amicus
Anita Yvonne MilanovichMilanovich Law, PLLC, Amicus
Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, United Church of Christ
Tillman J. BreckenridgePierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP, Amicus
Tillman J. BreckenridgePierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP, Amicus
National Disability Rights Network, et al.
Gregory M. LipperClinton & Peed, Amicus
Gregory M. LipperClinton & Peed, Amicus
National School Boards Association, et al.
Francisco Maria Negron Jr.National School Boards Association, Amicus
Francisco Maria Negron Jr.National School Boards Association, Amicus
Opportunity Scholarship Fund
Fred A. LeibrockPhillips Murrah P.C., Amicus
Fred A. LeibrockPhillips Murrah P.C., Amicus
Pioneer Institute
Dwight Gerard Duncan — Amicus
Dwight Gerard Duncan — Amicus
Public Funds Public Schools
Tamerlin Jane GodleyMunger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Amicus
Tamerlin Jane GodleyMunger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Amicus
Reason Foundation and Individual Rights Foundation
Manuel S. KlausnerLaw Office of Manuel S. Klausner, Amicus
Manuel S. KlausnerLaw Office of Manuel S. Klausner, Amicus
Religion Law Scholars
Kirti DatlaHogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus
Kirti DatlaHogan 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 HarrisWilliams & Connolly LLP, Amicus
Sarah Michelle HarrisWilliams & Connolly LLP, Amicus
State of Maine
Sarah Ann ForsterOffice of the Attorney General, Amicus
Sarah Ann ForsterOffice of the Attorney General, Amicus
State of Oklahoma
Mithun MansinghaniSolicitor General, Amicus
Mithun MansinghaniSolicitor General, Amicus
Tennessee Education Association
Richard L. ColbertKay Griffin, PLLC, Amicus
Richard L. ColbertKay Griffin, PLLC, Amicus
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Diana Marie VermThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Amicus
Diana Marie VermThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Amicus
The Cato Institute
Ilya ShapiroCato Institute, Amicus
Ilya ShapiroCato Institute, Amicus
The Honorable Scott Walker
Richard Michael EsenbergWisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, Amicus
Richard Michael EsenbergWisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, Amicus
The Rutherford Institute
Jason Peter GosselinDrinker Biddle and Reath LLP, Amicus
Jason Peter GosselinDrinker Biddle and Reath LLP, Amicus
United States
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Amicus
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Amicus