Boyette v. Galvin

Becket Role:
Counsel

Scoreboard

Decision:
Lost
Decision Date:
January 26, 2006
Deciding Court:
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Case Summary

Schoolchildren and parents in Massachusetts sought government funding for parochial education by amending a provision of the Massachusetts Constitution — known as the”Anti-Aid Amendment — that bars any public financial support for private primary or secondary schools.

They sought to amend this provision through a voters’ initiative, but the state Constitution explicitly prohibits initiatives to amend the Anti-Aid Amendment, as well as initiatives that concern “religion, religious practices or religious institutions.”

Becket challenged the two provisions prohibiting voters’ initiatives, arguing that they violate the Free Speech, Free Exercise, Equal Protection, Right to Petition, and Establishment Clause provisions of the federal Constitution.

In 2004 the court ruled against us. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

Case Information

Becket Role:
Counsel
Case Start Date:
April 28, 1998
Deciding Court:
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Original Court:
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Supreme Court Status:
Cert Denied
Practice Area(s):