• This was a Free Exercise Clause and Establishment Clause case. Missouri had a program where organizations could apply for state funding to resurface playgrounds with recycled tires. Trinity Lutheran ran a school and applied for this program; their application was rejected because of Missouri's ban on using public money for parochial education. Comer was a state official responsible for the resurfacing program, Pauley was a previous holder of the same position.

AKA

  • Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, 582 U.S. ___ (2017)
  • Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Pauley

Issues & Arguments

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Timeline

  • April 19, 2017 - argued before Supreme Court
  • June 26, 2017 - judgement in favor of Trinity Lutheran

Outcome

  • 7-2 decision in favor of Trinity Lutheran, finding that it is a Free Exercise Clause violation to ban the church from the resurfacing program.
  • Sotomayor and Ginsburg dissented, holding that the decision weakens Church/State separation.

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