CaseTrail

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

140 S. Ct. 2246 · Decided June 30, 2020 · Supreme Court of the United States

Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.

At a glance

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue was decided on June 30, 2020 by a vote of 5–4. The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Parochiaid (aid to religious schools)” in the First Amendment area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.

Read the opinion

Case details

Citations
140 S. Ct. 2246 · 207 L. Ed. 2d 679 · 2020 U.S. LEXIS 3518
Docket number
18-1195
Decided
June 30, 2020
Argued
January 22, 2020
Court era
Roberts Court
Decision type
Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
Disposition
Reversed and remanded
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
Vote
5–4
Majority opinion
John G. Roberts Jr.
Opinion assigned by
John G. Roberts Jr.
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Issue area
First Amendment
Legal provision
First Amendment (free exercise of religion)
Type of law
Constitutional amendment
Held unconstitutional
A state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision
Decision direction (SCDB)
Conservative what this means

How the Justices voted

JusticeVoteSeparate writing
Justice Clarence ThomasConcurrenceWrote an opinion
Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgDissentWrote an opinion
Justice Stephen G. BreyerDissentWrote an opinion
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.MajorityWrote an opinion
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.ConcurrenceWrote an opinion
Justice Sonia SotomayorDissentWrote an opinion
Justice Elena KaganDissent
Justice Neil M. GorsuchConcurrenceWrote an opinion
Justice Brett M. KavanaughMajority

Full case caption

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

SCDB identifiers: case 2019-038, docket 2019-038-01.

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error