BOARD OF EDUCATION OF KIRYAS JOEL VILLAGE V GRUMET 512 U.S 687 1994 KIRYAS JOEL VILLAGE V GRUMET U.S CONSTITUTION U.S GOV'T JUDICIAL RELIGION EDUCATION U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION SIGNIFICANCE THIS RULING MADE IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL DISTRICT BASED ON RELIGION BACKGROUND ALL RESIDENTS OF KIRYAS JOEL A RELIGIOUS VILLAGE IN NEW YORK PRACTICED A STRICT FORM OF JUDAISM A SPECIAL STATE LAW IN 1989 REDREW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LINES TO PROVIDE KIRYAS JOEL WITH ITS OWN SEPARATE DISTRICT THE NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION ALONG WITH TWO OF ITS OFFICIALS LOUIS GRUMET AND HAWK FILED SUIT AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CLAIMING THAT ITS ESTABLISHMENT WAS BASED PRIMARILY ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS AND THEREFORE VIOLATED THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT BOTH THE LOWER COURT AND THE APPEALS COURT AGREED FINDING THAT BECAUSE THE 1989 LAW IN EFFECT ESTABLISHED A RELIGION IN KIRYAS JOEL IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT APPEALED THE CASE TO THE U.S SUPREME COURT DECISION THIS CASE WAS ARGUED ON MARCH 30 1994 AND DECIDED ON JUNE 27 1994 BY A VOTE OF 6 TO 3 JUSTICE DAVID SOUTER SPOKE FOR THE COURT AND CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM REHNQUIST AND JUSTICES ANTONIN SCALIA AND CLARENCE THOMAS DISSENTED THE COURT HELD THAT THE 1989 STATUTE VIOLATED THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT BY CREATING A SPECIAL DISTRICT FOR THIS PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS GROUP THE STATUTE HAD THE EFFECT OF PROMOTING THAT RELIGION OVER OTHER RELIGIONS
