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HOCUS POCUS SCOTUS

1. What issue is at the center of both the Trinity Lutheran and Espinoza cases?
Can states refuse to subsidize religious education while supporting secular private education?

2. How does Justice Kagan argue that banning ALL funding to religious institutions would be ridiculous?
We cannot refuse to give police and fire protection to religious institutions.

3. What choice do the plaintiffs argue that these bans force on students?
Students are forced to choose between an institution which supports their beliefs and one that will give them thousands in aid.

4. According to the Census, what's the average amount that states spend on each public school student?
$11,392 per year

​5. How did Chief Justice John Roberts explain the Court's decision in Trinity Lutheran?
Denying funding due to religious identity penalizes those with that religion, thus violating the free exercise clause.

6. Because of the current makeup of the court, how do the authors predict that the Court will settle the Espinoza case?
They will likely lean towards the right, since Anthony Kennedy has been replaced by Brett Kavanaugh. They are likely to allow funding to these institutions.

7. What issue is at the heart of both of these Pennsylvania cases?
The Trump administration wishes to allow any employer to deny birth control coverage to its employees.

8. What court precedent was established in the 1982 case US v Lee?
When people with certain beliefs choose to enter into commercial activity, they accept that the limits their religion imposes on them will not apply to those they interact with.

9. How did the Trump Administration expand the effects of the ruling in the Hobby Lobby case?
The Hobby Lobby case was limited, stating that employers could not be directly required to provide birth control directly to employees because the same goal could be achieved more indirectly. The Trump Administration expanded this, stating that the religious objectors could be exempt from providing birth control coverage.

10. How do Trump's additions to the Court help predict the outcome of these cases?
Trump's additions to the Court will likely make the SCOTUS lean right, meaning his laws will be upheld.

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