Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) Case Brief: Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law Mandating Teaching of Creation Science in Public Schools

Case Brief: Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987)

Court: Supreme Court of the United States

Date: June 19, 1987

Facts: Edwards v. Aguillard involved a challenge to a Louisiana law known as the "Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science in Public School Instruction Act," enacted in 1981. The law required public schools to teach creation science alongside evolution science in biology classes, stipulating that if evolution was taught, creation science must also be included to provide a balanced educational approach.

The law was challenged by a group of teachers and parents, including plaintiffs like Barbara Edwards and others, who argued that the statute violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by promoting a particular religious view (creationism) in public schools. They contended that the law had a religious purpose and that it advanced religion by mandating the teaching of creation science.

Issue: Did the Louisiana law requiring the teaching of creation science alongside evolution in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?

Holding: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Edwards, holding that the Louisiana law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Reasoning:

1. Secular Purpose Requirement: The Court established that legislation must have a secular legislative purpose to avoid violating the Establishment Clause. The majority opinion, authored by Justice William J. Brennan, found that the primary purpose of the Louisiana law was to promote a particular religious belief rather than to advance legitimate educational goals.

2. Promotion of Religion: The Court concluded that the law had the effect of advancing religion, as it mandated the teaching of creationism, which is rooted in specific religious doctrines. This promotion of religious views in a public school context was deemed unconstitutional.

3. Historical Context and Precedents: The Court cited prior decisions that emphasized the importance of maintaining a separation between church and state, referencing cases such as Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) to reinforce the principle that government should not endorse or favor any particular religion.

4. Educational Impact: The ruling indicated that the law's requirement to teach creation science alongside evolution undermined the quality of science education and imposed religious beliefs on the curriculum. It could also confuse students about the scientific basis of evolution.

Conclusion: The Supreme Court’s decision in Edwards v. Aguillard affirmed that laws requiring the teaching of creation science alongside evolution in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The ruling reinforced the principle of secular education in public schools and emphasized the importance of separating government interests from religious doctrines.