LAMB'S CHAPEL V CENTER MORICHES SCHOOL DISTRICT 508 U.S 385 1993 LAMB'S CHAPEL V CENTER MORICHES S.D U.S CONSTITUTION U.S GOV'T JUDICIAL RELIGION U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS CASE THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS A RELIGIOUS GROUP'S RIGHT TO EXPRESS ITS VIEWS IN SITUATIONS WHERE OTHER GROUPS ARE ALLOWED THE SAME PRIVILEGE BACKGROUND A NEW YORK SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW PROHIBITED MEETINGS FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REFUSED TWO REQUESTS BY A LOCAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH TO SHOW AT THE SCHOOL A RELIGIOUS ORIENTED FILM SERIES ABOUT FAMILY LIFE IN RESPONSE THE CHURCH SUED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CLAIMING THAT THE REFUSAL VIOLATED THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH CLAUSE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT BOTH THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE COURT OF APPEALS RULED IN FAVOR OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISION THIS CASE WAS ARGUED ON FEBRUARY 24 1993 AND DECIDED ON JUNE 7 1993 BY A VOTE OF 9 TO 0 JUSTICE BYRON WHITE SPOKE FOR THE UNANIMOUS COURT WHICH UPHELD THE NOTION THAT THE SCHOOL WAS ALLOWED BY LAW TO CONTROL WHICH ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE ON ITS GROUNDS HOWEVER BECAUSE THE SCHOOL ALLOWED OTHER NONRELIGIOUS VIEWS ON SIMILAR SUBJECTS TO BE HEARD IT MUST ALSO ALLOW THE SAME FOR THE CHURCH GROUP FINDING THAT THE CHURCH GROUP'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH HAD BEEN VIOLATED THE COURT REVERSED THE LOWER COURT'S DECISION EXCERPT FROM THE OPINION OF THE COURT THE FILM SERIES INVOLVED HERE NO DOUBT DEALT WITH A SUBJECT OTHERWISE PERMISSIBLE AND ITS EXHIBITION WAS DENIED SOLELY BECAUSE THE FILM SERIES DEALT WITH THE SUBJECT FROM A RELIGIOUS STANDPOINT THE PRINCIPLE THAT HAS EMERGED FROM OUR CASES IS THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT FORBIDS THE GOVERNMENT TO REGULATE SPEECH IN WAYS THAT FAVOR SOME VIEWPOINTS OR IDEAS AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS
