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No. 24-297October Term 2024Decided Jun 27, 2025

Docket 24-297October Term 2024 (2024–2025)

Tamer Mahmoud, et al., Petitioners v. Thomas W. Taylor, et al.

Parents sued a Maryland school board for eliminating the ability to opt their elementary-aged children out of curriculum featuring LGBTQ+ storybooks, arguing the mandatory instruction violated their religious rights.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 27, 2025
Case Accepted
Arguments HeardApr 22, 2025
Decision ReleasedJun 27, 2025
What it's about

Parents sued a Maryland school board for eliminating the ability to opt their elementary-aged children out of curriculum featuring LGBTQ+ storybooks, arguing the mandatory instruction violated their religious rights. The Supreme Court held that the no-opt-out policy unconstitutionally burdened the parents' free exercise of religion by substantially interfering with their ability to guide their children's religious development.

Question presented

Do public schools burden parents’ religious exercise when they compel elementary school children to participate in instruction on gender and sexuality against their parents’ religious convictions and without notice or opportunity to opt out?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Decision released Jun 27, 2025

Area

Decided Supreme Court case