Lynch v. Donnelly

Lynch v. Donnelly
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued October 4, 1983
Decided March 5, 1984
Full case nameDennis M. Lynch, Mayor of Pawtucket, et al. v. Daniel Donnelly, et al.
Citations465 U.S. 668 (more)
104 S. Ct. 1355; 79 L. Ed. 2d 604; 1984 U.S. LEXIS 37; 52 U.S.L.W. 4317
Holding
The city of Pawtucket's nativity scene does not violate the Establishment Clause.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger
Associate Justices
William J. Brennan Jr. · Byron White
Thurgood Marshall · Harry Blackmun
Lewis F. Powell Jr. · William Rehnquist
John P. Stevens · Sandra Day O'Connor
Case opinions
MajorityBurger, joined by White, Powell, Rehnquist, O'Connor
ConcurrenceO'Connor
DissentBrennan, joined by Marshall, Blackmun, Stevens
DissentBlackmun, joined by Stevens
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amend. I

Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984), was a United States Supreme Court case challenging the legality of Christmas decorations on town property. All plaintiffs, including lead plaintiff Daniel Donnelly, were members of the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU. The lead defendant was Dennis Lynch, then mayor of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.[1]

  1. ^ "Donnelly v. Lynch, 525 F. Supp. 1150 (D.R.I. 1981)".