Legal challenges to anti-evolutionist policies began with the Scopes Trial of 1925, a case the evolutionists actually lost.

Since 1968, however, U.S. courts have consistently held that "creationism" is a particular religious viewpoint and that teaching it in public schools would violate the First Amendment of the Constitution.

• Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) Supreme Court decision
• McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education (1982)
• Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) Supreme Court decision
• Kitzmiller v. Dover (2005) teaching "intelligent design" in public schools was found to be unconstitutional.

For a one page summary of important court cases, see Ten Major Court Cases about Creationism and Evolution.

Related Cases

• American Freedom Alliance v. California Science Center et al. (2009-)
• Association of Christian Schools International et al. v. Roman Stearns et al. (2005-)
• Caldwell v. Caldwell et al. (2005-2009)
• Caldwell v. Roseville Joint Union High School District et al. (2005-2007)
• C.F. et al. v. Capistrano Unified School District et al. (2007-)
• Comer v. Scott and Texas Education Agency (2008-)
• Daniel v. Waters and Steele v. Waters (1973-1975)
• Doe v. Mount Vernon Board of Education et al. (2008-)
• Discovery Institute v. California Science Center (2009-)
• Freiler v. Tangipahoa (1994-2000)
• Freshwater v. Mount Vernon Board of Education et al. (2009-)
• Hendren v. Campbell (1977)
• Hurst v. Newman (2006)
• Institute for Creation Research Graduate School v. Paredes et al. (2009-)
• LeVake v. Independent School District #656 (1999-2002)
• Peloza v. Capistrano Unified School District (1991-1994)
• Segraves et al. v. State of California et al. (1979-1981)
• Selman v. Cobb County, GA (2002-2006)
• Webster et al. v. New Lenox School District et al. (1987-1990)

More Resources

For guides to NCSE's collection of printed materials on lawsuits concerning evolution education, see NCSE Archives.

The website Anti-Evolution and the Law collects resources and links to legal documents, court cases, and political events concerned with teaching evolution in schools.

Chapter 4 of Religion in the Public Schools: A Road Map for Avoiding Lawsuits and Respecting Parents' Legal Rights, by Anne Marie Lofaso, a professor of law at West Virginia University, contains a detailed review of the legal issues surrounding the teaching of evolution.