Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Tamer Mahmoud, et al. v. Thomas W. Taylor, et al.
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 23-1890 · judgment May 15, 2024
Before the decision, modestly above the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for a circuit split argued in the petition, a dissent in the court below (flagged in the petition), and counsel who has filed here before.
Question presented
Respondent Montgomery County Board of Education requires elementary school teachers to read their students storybooks celebrating gender transitions, Pride parades, and same-sex playground romance. The storybooks were chosen to disrupt "cisnormativity" and "either/or thinking" among students. The Board's own principals objected that the curriculum was "not appropriate for the intended age group," presented gender ideology as "fact," "sham[ed]" students with contrary opinions, and was "dismissive of religious beliefs." The Board initially allowed parents to opt their kids outbut then reversed course, saying that no opt-outs would be permitted and that parents would not even be notified when the storybooks were read. Petitioners filed suit, not challenging the curriculum, but arguing that compelling their elementary-age children to participate in instruction contrary to their parents' religious convictions violated the Free Exercise Clause. Construing Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Fourth Circuit found no free-exercise burden because no one was forced "to change their religious beliefs or conduct." The question presented is: Do public schools burden parents' religious exercise when they compel elementary school children to participate in instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents' religious convictions and with-out notice or opportunity to opt out?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Eric S. Baxter
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
For respondent
Alan Evan Schoenfeld
Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr, LLP
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 3 conferences
Amicus briefs
11 cert-stage · 61 merits
(40 supporting pet./neither, 21 respondent)
Argument & decision
Argued April 22, 2025 — Eric S. Baxter · Alan E. Schoenfeld. Audio and transcript
Decided June 27, 2025. Opinion by Alito.
Proceedings
- Jul 29 2025Judgment Issued.
- Jun 27 2025Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Kagan and Jackson, JJ., joined.
- Apr 22 2025Argued. For petitioners: Eric S. Baxter, Washington, D. C.; and Sarah M. Harris, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Alan E. Schoenfeld, New York, N. Y.
- Apr 17 2025Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
- Apr 11 2025Reply of petitioners Tamer Mahmoud, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amicus curiae of Interfaith Alliance filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amicus curiae of Coalition for Responsible Home Education filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Montgomery County Faith Leaders filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Maryland, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Muslim Organizations filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Authors Guild, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Constitutional Scholars filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of National Education Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Leadership Conference Education Fund, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Professor Lawrence G. Sager, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of American Psychological Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of American Atheists, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Scholars for the Advancement of Children's Constitutional Rights, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amicus curiae of PEN American Center, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Justin Driver, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amicus curiae of Freedom From Religion Foundation filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amicus curiae of Robert D. Kamenshine filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 09 2025Brief amici curiae of Lebo Pride, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 02 2025Brief of respondents Thomas W. Taylor, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Mar 19 2025CIRCULATED
- Mar 17 2025Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Our Duty–USA and Partners for Ethical Care filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of 66 Members of Congress filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Muslim Parents, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of America First Legal Foundation filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of State of West Virginia, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of 35 Maryland Legislators filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Legal Insurrection Foundation filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Sutherland Institute filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, et al. supporting neither party filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Protect Our Kids (California), et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Ethics and Public Policy Center filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Women's Liberation Front filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Parents Defending Education filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Maryland Family Institute, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Center for American Liberty filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of National Religious Broadcasters, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Professors S. Ernie Walton, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Defense of Freedom Institute For Policy Studies, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Tammy Fournier filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Melissa Moschella, Ph.D. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Liberty Counsel filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Parent Nicholas Brown, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Professor Douglas Laycock, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Moral Law filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of NC Values Institute, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Nathan Lewin filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of Independence Law Center filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of America's Future, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Manhattan Institute, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of Advancing American Freedom, et al. filed.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amicus curiae of California Parents for the Equalization of Educational Materials in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Mar 10 2025Brief amici curiae of America's Frontline Doctors, et al. filed.
- Mar 07 2025Brief amicus curiae of Americans for Prosperity Foundation filed.
- Mar 05 2025Brief amicus curiae of LONANG Institute filed.
- Mar 03 2025Brief of Tamer Mahmoud, et al. not accepted for filing. (March 04, 2025--Reprinted brief and PDF submitted.)
- Mar 03 2025Brief of petitioners Tamer Mahmoud, et al. filed.
- Mar 03 2025Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
- Feb 28 2025Brief amici curiae of Jaco Booyens Ministries, et al. filed.
- Feb 26 2025Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
- Feb 26 2025Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
- Feb 24 2025SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
- Jan 17 2025Petition GRANTED.
- Jan 13 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/17/2025.
- Dec 27 2024Reply of petitioners Tamer Mahmoud, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Dec 24 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2025.
- Dec 20 2024Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioners.
- Dec 18 2024Brief of respondents Thomas Taylor, et al. in opposition filed.
- Oct 24 2024Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 18, 2024.
- Oct 21 2024Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 18, 2024 to December 18, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
- Oct 17 2024Response Requested. (Due November 18, 2024)
- Oct 16 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/1/2024.
- Oct 16 2024Brief amici curiae of West Virginia, et al. filed.
- Oct 16 2024Brief amici curiae of Protect the First Foundation, et al. filed.
- Oct 16 2024Brief amicus curiae of NC Values Institute filed.
- Oct 16 2024Brief amici curiae of America's Future, et al. filed.
- Oct 16 2024Brief amicus curiae of America First Legal Foundation filed.
- Oct 16 2024Brief amici curiae of Parents Nicholas Brown, et al. filed.
- Oct 15 2024Waiver of right of respondent Thomas Taylor, et al. to respond filed.
- Oct 15 2024Brief amici curiae of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Oct 14 2024Brief amici curiae of Professor S. Ernie Walton, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Oct 14 2024Brief amici curiae of Douglas Laycock, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Oct 14 2024Brief amicus curiae of Christian Legal Society filed. (Distributed)
- Oct 04 2024Brief amici curiae of Advancing American Freedom, et al. filed.
- Sep 12 2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 16, 2024)
- Jul 26 2024Application (24A94) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until September 12, 2024.
- Jul 24 2024Application (24A94) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 13, 2024 to September 12, 2024, submitted to The Chief Justice.