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Oral Argument: Mahmoud v. Taylor | Case No. 24-297 | Date Argued: 4/22/25
Case Info: Mahmoud v. Taylor | Case No. 24-297 | Date Argued: 4/22/25
Link to Docket: Here.
Background:
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 out- but 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."
Question Presented: 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?
Oral Advocates:
- 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.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Petitioner Opening Statement
02:06 Petitioner Free for All Questions Begin
18:38 Petitioner Sequential Questions Begin
53:39 Petitioner Questions End, Government Opening Statement
54:43 Government Free for All Questions Begin
1:04:21 Government Sequential Questions Begin
01:22:12 Government Questions End, Respondent Opening Statement
01:24:02 Respondent Free for All Questions Begin
01:52:42 Respondent Sequential Questions Begin
2:25:55 Respondent Questions End, Petitioner Rebuttal Begins
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By SCOTUS Oral ArgumentsCase Info: Mahmoud v. Taylor | Case No. 24-297 | Date Argued: 4/22/25
Link to Docket: Here.
Background:
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 out- but 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."
Question Presented: 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?
Oral Advocates:
- 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.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:05 Petitioner Opening Statement
02:06 Petitioner Free for All Questions Begin
18:38 Petitioner Sequential Questions Begin
53:39 Petitioner Questions End, Government Opening Statement
54:43 Government Free for All Questions Begin
1:04:21 Government Sequential Questions Begin
01:22:12 Government Questions End, Respondent Opening Statement
01:24:02 Respondent Free for All Questions Begin
01:52:42 Respondent Sequential Questions Begin
2:25:55 Respondent Questions End, Petitioner Rebuttal Begins