Lynch v. Donnelly - Significance, Public Religious Displays, Further Readings

petitioner court william justices

Petitioner

Lynch, Mayor of Pawtucket, et al.

Respondent

Donnelly, et al.

Petitioner's Claim

A nativity scene should be allowed in public view.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner

William F. McMahon

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Amato A. DeLuca

Justices for the Court

Warren E. Burger (writing for the Court), Sandra Day O'Connor, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting

Harry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, John Paul Stevens

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

5 March 1984

Decision

The nativity scene was allowed to remain in view.

Related Cases

Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971).
County of Allegheny v. ACLU, 492 U.S. 573 (1989).

Sources

Hirsley, Michael. "Religious Display Needs Firm Court."Chicago Tribune, 20 December 1991.

Additional Topics

Lynch v. Donnelly - Significance

The case led many to believe that the Court was tempering its stand for the separation of church and state. The case of Lynch v. Donnelly, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court 5 March 1984, became a landmark case regarding the separation of church and state. The case began as a dispute between a group of people who wanted a "creche" displayed in public and a group who did not. A "creche" is a nativit…

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