Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments Today In Montana Religious School Aid Case
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this morning in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. In the case, the Montana Supreme Court held that Montana's tax credit program for contributions to student scholarship organizations is unconstitutional under Montana Constitution Art. X, Sec, 6 which prohibits state aid to sectarian schools. (See prior posting.) The Solicitor General will participate in oral argument, contending that Montana's "no-aid" provision violates the U.S. Constitution's free exercise clause. SCOTUS blog has a preview of today's arguments. Here is SCOTUS blog's case page with links to all the filings in the case and to additional discussion of the issues involved. I will post the transcript of the oral arguments later today when it becomes available.