Promoted to 
chief justice by
Ronald Reagan, 
(Republican)
1986
 

Instrumental in decision that gay men can be banned from serving as Scout leaders. (Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, docket no. 99-699, 2000)

Opposes abortion: one of the two justices who opposed 1973 Roe v Wade.

Wrote decision overturning Everson v. Board of Education (330 U.S. 1, 1947) and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2002 in the school voucher decision.  The Everson decision, which has stood 55 years, stated: "No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions."  In overturning this First Amendment issue, Rehnquist wrote that the school vouchers don't violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause because they are for a "valid secular purpose... being neutral toward religion".  However, 96% of the students in the school voucher program in question attend attend religious schools.  Clearly, taxes are being levied to support religious institutions.

One of three justices who opposed ruling that public schools cannot lead prayers before football games because it is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  Sante Fe's high school had practice of electing a student council chaplain to deliver prayers over the school's public address system.  (Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, docket no. 99-62, 2000)

Opposed decision that Louisiana's "Creationism Act" violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (see creationism act, under Scalia)

Wrote majority opinion in ruling that public schools cannot lead prayers before football games  (see school prayers, under Rehnquist).

One of three justices who opposed ruling that public schools cannot lead prayers (see school prayers, under Rehnquist).

Voted to allow school vouchers to religious schools (see school vouchers, under Rehnquist).

Wants to lower wall of separation between church and state.  At Religious Freedom Day event (1/12/2003), Scalia complained that the Supreme Court and lower federal courts have gone overboard in keeping God out of government.

Opposed, and wrote dissenting opinion, on decision that Louisiana's "Creationism Act" violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  The Creationism Act forbid the teaching of the theory of evolution unless the theory of "creation science" was also taught. (Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578, 1987) 

• Voted to allow school vouchers to religious schools (see school vouchers, under Rehnquist).

Once a staunch conservative, she has subsequently become more liberal on some issues, and is often the key swing member

Voted to allow school vouchers to religious schools (see school vouchers, under Rehnquist).

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• One of three justices who opposed ruling that public schools cannot lead prayers (see school prayers, under Rehnquist).
• Voted to allow school vouchers to religious schools (see school vouchers, under Rehnquist).
• Bio: Attended Conception Seminary and received an A.B. from Holy Cross College

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