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Elmbrook School District v. Doe

Petition for certiorari denied on June 16, 2014

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
12-755 7th Cir N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2013

Issue: (1) Whether the Establishment Clause prohibits the government from conducting public functions such as high school graduation exercises in a church building, where the function has no religious content and the government selected the venue for reasons of secular convenience; (2) whether the government "coerces" religious activity in violation of Lee v. Weisman and Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe where there is no pressure to engage in a religious practice or activity, but merely exposure to religious symbols; and (3) whether the government "endorses" religion when it engages in a religion-neutral action that incidentally exposes citizens to a private religious message.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
10/04/2012Application (12A329) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from October 21, 2012 to December 20, 2012, submitted to Justice Kagan.
10/04/2012Application (12A329) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until December 20, 2012.
12/20/2012Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 22, 2013)
01/09/2013Order extending time to file response to petition to and including February 21, 2013.
01/17/2013Consent to the filing of amicus cuirae briefs, in support of either party or of neitiher party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
01/17/2013Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents.
01/18/2013Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom filed.
01/22/2013Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
01/22/2013Brief amici curiae of Texas, et al. filed.
01/22/2013Brief amici curiae of American Association of School Administratiors, et al. filed.
02/21/2013Brief of respondents John Doe, 3, a Minor by Doe 3's Next Best Friend Doe 2, et al. in opposition filed.
03/06/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 22, 2013.
03/06/2013Reply of petitioner Elmbrook School District filed. (Distributed)
03/25/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 29, 2013.
04/01/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 12, 2013.
04/15/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 19, 2013.
04/22/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 26, 2013.
04/29/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 9, 2013.
05/13/2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 16, 2013.
05/05/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 15, 2014.
05/06/2014Supplemental brief of petitioner Elmbrook School District filed. (Distributed)
05/07/2014Supplemental brief of respondents John Doe, 3, a Minor by Doe 3's Next Best Friend Doe 2, et al. filed. (Distributed)
05/19/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 22, 2014.
05/27/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 29, 2014.
06/02/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 5, 2014.
06/09/2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 12, 2014.
06/16/2014Petition DENIED. Justice Scalia, with whom Justice Thomas joins, dissenting from the denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion)