Good News Club v. Milford Central School District

Summary

The school district had a policy governing the use of its facilities that stated “School premises shall not be used by any individual or organization for religious purposes.” Based on this policy, the school district denied the Good News Club, an after-school Bible club for students, from using space in the school after hours for weekly meetings, claiming that granting access would unconstitutionally permit religious worship and instruction in a public facility. Good News Club filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the policy.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that allowing the Good News Club to meet in the school after hours on the same basis as other community groups does not violate the Establishment Clause and a refusal to allow the group to meet on the basis of the religious content was unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. The school’s policy was struck down.

What’s at stake

The right of religious organizations to have equal access to government programs and facilities

Religious groups being discriminated against for engaging in religious worship

Our role in this case

Alliance Defending Freedom provided funding to support the coordination of the amici effort and assist the legal team’s preparation for argument before the Supreme Court.