Establishment of religion: Supreme Court decisions

Every U.S. Supreme Court decision from the 1946 through 2025 Terms that the Supreme Court Database classifies under the issue “Establishment of religion,” part of the First Amendment area.

Legal provisions most often involved

All 36 decisions, newest first

• Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission
  605 U.S. 238Decided June 5, 20259–0Sonia Sotomayor
• Kennedy v. Bremerton School DistrictAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
  142 S. Ct. 2407Decided June 27, 20226–3Neil M. Gorsuch
• American Legion v. American Humanist Association
  139 S. Ct. 2067Decided June 20, 20197–2Samuel A. Alito Jr.
• Town of Greece v. Galloway
  572 U.S. 565Decided May 5, 20145–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• Ken L. Salazar v. Frank Buono
  559 U.S. 700Decided April 28, 20105–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• Thomas Van Orden v. Rick Perry
  545 U.S. 677Decided June 27, 20055–4William H. Rehnquist
• McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union of KentuckyLaw held unconstitutional
  545 U.S. 844Decided June 27, 20055–4David H. Souter
• Jon B. Cutter v. Reginald Wilkinson
  544 U.S. 709Decided May 31, 20059–0Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Good News Club v. Milford Central School
  533 U.S. 98Decided June 11, 20016–3Clarence Thomas
• Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe
  530 U.S. 290Decided June 19, 20006–3John Paul Stevens
• Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board v. Vincent J. Pinette
  515 U.S. 753Decided June 29, 19957–2Antonin Scalia
• Ronald W. Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
  515 U.S. 819Decided June 29, 19955–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• Robert E. Lee v. Daniel Weisman Etc.Law held unconstitutional
  505 U.S. 577Decided June 24, 19925–4Anthony M. Kennedy
• County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union
  492 U.S. 573Decided July 2, 19895–4Harry A. Blackmun
• Texas Monthly, Inc. v. BullockLaw held unconstitutional
  489 U.S. 1Decided February 21, 19896–3William J. Brennan Jr.
• Bowen v. Kendrick
  487 U.S. 589Decided June 27, 19885–4William H. Rehnquist
• Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. Amos
  483 U.S. 327Decided June 24, 19879–0Byron R. White
• Bender v. Williamsport Area School District
  475 U.S. 534Decided March 25, 19865–4John Paul Stevens
• Estate of Thornton v. Caldor, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  472 U.S. 703Decided June 26, 19858–1Warren E. Burger
• Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale v. Kathleen S. McCreary
  471 U.S. 83Decided March 27, 19854–4
• Lynch v. Donnelly
  465 U.S. 668Decided March 5, 19845–4Warren E. Burger
• Marsh v. Chambers
  463 U.S. 783Decided July 5, 19836–3Warren E. Burger
• Larkin v. Grendel's Den, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
  459 U.S. 116Decided December 13, 19828–1Warren E. Burger
• Larson v. ValenteLaw held unconstitutional
  456 U.S. 228Decided April 21, 19825–4William J. Brennan Jr.
• Widmar v. Vincent
  454 U.S. 263Decided December 8, 19818–1Lewis F. Powell Jr.
• Stone v. GrahamLaw held unconstitutional
  449 U.S. 39Decided November 17, 19805–4Per curiam
• Walz v. Tax Commission of the City of New York
  397 U.S. 664Decided May 4, 19707–1Warren E. Burger
• Epperson v. ArkansasLaw held unconstitutional
  393 U.S. 97Decided November 17, 19689–0Abe Fortas
• Chamberlin v. Dade County Board of Public InstructionLaw held unconstitutional
  377 U.S. 402Decided June 1, 19648–1Per curiam
• School District of Abington Township v. SchemppLaw held unconstitutional
  374 U.S. 203Decided June 17, 19638–1Tom C. Clark
• Arlan's Department Store of Louisville, Inc. v. Kentucky
  371 U.S. 218Decided December 17, 19628–1Per curiam
• Engel v. Vitale
  370 U.S. 421Decided June 25, 19626–1Hugo L. Black
• Torcaso v. WatkinsLaw held unconstitutional
  367 U.S. 488Decided June 19, 19619–0Hugo L. Black
• McGowan v. Maryland
  366 U.S. 420Decided May 29, 19618–1Earl Warren
• Two Guys From Harrison-Allentown, Inc. v. McGinley
  366 U.S. 582Decided May 29, 19618–1Earl Warren
• Everson v. Board of Education of the Township of Ewing
  330 U.S. 1Decided February 10, 19475–4Hugo L. Black

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