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Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia Inc. v. Comer

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Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
15-577 8th Cir. Apr 19, 2017 Jun 26, 2017 7-2 Roberts OT 2016

Holding: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' express policy of denying grants to any applicant owned or controlled by a church, sect or other religious entity violated the rights of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc., under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment by denying the church an otherwise available public benefit on account of its religious status.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 7-2, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on June 26, 2017. Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court, except as to Footnote 3. Justices Kennedy, Alito and Kagan joined that opinion in full, and Justices Thomas and Gorsuch joined except as to Footnote 3. Justice Thomas filed an opinion concurring in part, in which Justice Gorsuch joined. Justice Gorsuch filed an opinion concurring in part, in which Justice Thomas joined. Justice Breyer filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Nov 04 2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 7, 2015)
Dec 03 2015Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for petitioner.
Dec 07 2015Brief amici curiae of Association of Christian Schools International, and Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod filed.
Dec 07 2015Brief amicus curiae of The American Center for Law & Justice filed.
Dec 07 2015Brief amici curiae of Nevada, et al. filed.
Dec 07 2015Brief of respondent Sara Parker Pauley, Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources in opposition filed.
Dec 07 2015Brief amicus curiae of Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission filed.
Dec 07 2015Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Moral Law filed. (Distributed)
Dec 18 2015Reply of petitioner Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. filed.
Dec 22 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 8, 2016.
Jan 11 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 15, 2016.
Jan 15 2016Petition GRANTED.
Feb 09 2016The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including April 14, 2016.
Feb 09 2016The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 28, 2016.
Mar 17 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Apr 14 2016Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Apr 14 2016Brief of petitioner Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. filed.
Apr 18 2016Brief amicus curiae of World Vision, Inc. filed.
Apr 19 2016Brief amicus curiae of The American Center for Law & Justice filed.
Apr 20 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America filed.
Apr 20 2016Brief amicus curiae of Justice and Freedom Fund filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of American Jewish Committee in support of neither party filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Association of Christian Schools International, and Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Bronx Household of Faith filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of American Association of Christian Schools filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Members of Congress filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, et al. filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Douglas County School District, et al. filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Evangelicals filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Nevada, et al. filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of The General Council of the Assemblies of God filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of Belmont Abbey College filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Law and Religion Practitioners filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Cato Institute filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of Colorado filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, et al. filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amici curiae of Liberty Counsel, et al. filed.
Apr 21 2016Brief amicus curiae of WallBuilders, Inc. filed.
Jun 28 2016Brief of respondent Sara Parker Pauley, Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources filed.
Jul 05 2016Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union, et al. filed.
Jul 05 2016Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil Rights Organizations filed.
Jul 05 2016Brief amici curiae of Legal and Religious Historians filed.
Jul 05 2016Brief amici curiae of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and General Synod of The United Church of Christ filed.
Jul 05 2016Brief amicus curiae of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. filed.
Jul 05 2016Brief amicus curiae of The National Education Association filed.
Jul 22 2016Application (16A78) to extend the time to file a reply brief from July 28, 2016 to August 12, 2016, submitted to Justice Alito.
Jul 25 2016Application (16A78) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until August 12, 2016.
Aug 12 2016Reply of petitioner Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. filed.
Feb 17 2017SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, April 19, 2017.
Feb 24 2017Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit.
Mar 02 2017Record received from the U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit (1 box).
Mar 02 2017CIRCULATED.
Apr 14 2017Request from the Clerk that the parties submit their views on whether this case is affected by the press release relating to access to Missouri grant programs issued by Governor Greitens on April 13, 2017. The parties' views should be in the form of a letter delivered to the Court and served upon counsel by noon on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.
Apr 18 2017Letter of petitioner pursuant to April 14, 2017 request of Clerk filed. (Distributed)
Apr 18 2017Letter of respondent pursuant to April 14, 2017 request of Clerk filed. (Distributed)
Apr 19 2017Argued. For petitioner: David A. Cortman, Lawrenceville, Ga. For respondent: James R. Layton, Jefferson City, Mo.
Jun 26 2017Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, except as to footnote 3. Kennedy, Alito, and Kagan, JJ., joined that opinion in full, and Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ., joined except as to footnote 3. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in part, in which Gorsuch, J., joined. Gorsuch, J., filed an opinion concurring in part, in which Thomas, J., joined. Breyer, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, J., joined.
Jul 28 2017JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Aug 07 2017Record from the U.S.C.A. for the Eight Circuit has been returned.