Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Oregon passed a law requiring all children to attend public schools, effectively banning private and parochial schools. The Society of Sisters, which ran Catholic schools, challenged the law. The Supreme Court struck it down, ruling that the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause protects parents’ right to direct their children’s education and to choose private or religious schools.

Prince v. Massachusetts (1944)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Sarah Prince, a Jehovah’s Witness, was convicted for allowing her 9-year-old niece to distribute religious literature in violation of Massachusetts child labor laws. She argued this violated her rights to direct the child’s upbringing and exercise religion. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction, ruling that parental and religious rights are not absolute and can be limited to protect children’s welfare.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
The New York Board of Regents authorized a short, voluntary prayer to be recited in public schools. Parents challenged it, and the Supreme Court ruled that state-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

3) Why It Mattered
This was the first case to clearly ban official school prayer. It reinforced the separation of church and state in the public education system.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Wisconsin required children to attend school until age 16. Amish parents objected, arguing that sending their children to high school conflicted with their religious beliefs. The Supreme Court ruled in their favor, holding that the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause, combined with parental rights, allowed Amish parents to withdraw their children after the 8th grade.

Trump v. Hawaii (2018)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
President Trump issued a proclamation restricting entry into the U.S. from several predominantly Muslim countries. Opponents argued it violated the Establishment Clause by targeting Muslims. The Supreme Court upheld the travel ban 5–4, ruling it was within the President’s authority over immigration and national security. In doing so, the Court explicitly disavowed Korematsu v. United States (1944) as wrongly decided.

303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (2023)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative, a web design company, wanted to expand into wedding websites but objected to creating designs for same-sex marriages, citing religious beliefs. Colorado’s anti-discrimination law prohibited businesses from denying services based on sexual orientation. The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that forcing Smith to create such websites would violate the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause by compelling her to express a message she disagreed with.

Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the Supreme Court opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Parents in Maryland objected to their children being required to read LGBTQ+-inclusive storybooks without an opt-out option. The Supreme Court granted a preliminary injunction against the school district, allowing the parents relief while the case proceeds, finding they were likely to succeed on their Free Exercise Clause claim.

3) Why It Mattered
This decision highlighted growing tensions between parental rights, religious freedom, and public school curricula. It signals stronger protection for parents seeking to opt out of content that conflicts with their religious beliefs.