Christian Legal Society Chapter of the University of California v. Leo P. Martinez
561 U.S. 661 · Decided June 28, 2010 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Christian Legal Society Chapter of the University of California v. Leo P. Martinez was decided on June 28, 2010 by a vote of 5–4. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Free exercise of religion” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 561 U.S. 661 · 130 S. Ct. 2971 · 177 L. Ed. 2d 838 · 2010 U.S. LEXIS 5367
- Docket number
- 08-1371
- Decided
- June 28, 2010
- Argued
- April 19, 2010
- Court era
- Roberts Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority opinion
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Opinion assigned by
- John Paul Stevens
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Free exercise of religion
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (free exercise of religion)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Dissent | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Dissent | |
| Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Majority | |
| Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. | Dissent | |
| Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Sonia Sotomayor | Majority |
Full case caption
Christian Legal Society Chapter of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, aka Hastings Christian Fellowship v. Leo P. Martinez et al.
SCDB identifiers: case 2009-090, docket 2009-090-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Free exercise of religion”
- Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionLaw held unconstitutional
- Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores
- Alberto R. Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao Do Vegetal
- Holt v. Hobbs
- Zubik v. Burwell
- Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of StrattonLaw held unconstitutional
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (free exercise of religion)
- Gary Locke v. Joshua Davey
- Trinity Lutheran Church v. ComerLaw held unconstitutional
- Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
- Espinoza v. Montana Department of RevenueLaw held unconstitutional
- Carson v. MakinLaw held unconstitutional
- Zorach v. Clauson
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- Citizens United v. Federal Election CommissionAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
- United States v. Robert J. StevensLaw held unconstitutional
- Ken L. Salazar v. Frank Buono
- Eric H. Holder, Jr. v. Humanitarian Law Project
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error