Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025)

Mahmoud v. Taylor was a SCOTUS in the Classroom case. It was decided on June 27, 2025.

This case involved a Maryland school district’s adoption of storybooks with LGBTQ characters for elementary-school classrooms without offering parents notice of when the books would be read or an opportunity to opt their children out of the activity. A group of parents sued the school district alleging that the policy infringed on their First Amendment Free Exercise rights.

Each term Street Law selects the most classroom-relevant, student-friendly cases as our SCOTUS in the Classroom cases. Teachers are encouraged to conduct moot courts the same week the case is argued, giving students the opportunity to follow discussion and analysis in the news and listen to or read a transcript of the actual oral arguments.

Case Issue:

Do public schools burden parents’ religious exercise when they compel elementary-school children to participate in instruction that includes books with LGBTQ characters against their parents’ religious convictions and without notice or opportunity to opt out?

Case Briefs:

• Brief of Petitioner: Mahmoud, et al.
• Brief of Respondents: Taylor, et al.

Oral Argument:

• Audio recording and transcript of the oral argument from the Supreme Court

Decision:

• Link to the opinion of the Court

News Articles:

• MYMCM by Maryam Shahzad: “LGBTQ+ Storybook Opt-Out Case Will Go to Supreme Court,” (January 21, 2025)
• USA Today by Maureen Groppe: “‘Pride Puppy’: Supreme Court takes up parents’ fight over LGBTQ+ books,” (January 17, 2025)
• Maryland Matters by Steve Crane: “Supreme Court agrees to hear Montgomery parents’ challenge to LGBTQ+ book rules,” (January 18, 2025)

How to Conduct a Moot Court or a Mini-Moot Court: 

• Classroom Guide to Moot Courts 
• Mini-Moot Court Demonstration Video