Supreme Court asked to reconsider ruling on religious studies aid

Lawyers representing Bethany Hall, a student at Liberty University, have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the 2004 decision in Locke v. Davey. The case centers on the denial of state-funded tuition assistance after Hall changed her academic focus.

Hall originally qualified for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG), a $5,000 annual scholarship, while studying music education. However, she lost the funding after switching her major to music and worship. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled against her, citing the Locke v. Davey precedent, which held that excluding students pursuing religious studies from state-funded programs does not violate the Free Exercise Clause.

A coalition of legal organizations, including the Alliance Defending Freedom, First Liberty Institute, and the National Legal Foundation, argues that the current restriction constitutes unconstitutional religious discrimination. They contend that the state cannot deny publicly available benefits simply because a student’s major involves religious study, especially as recent rulings have allowed taxpayer funds to support religious institutions.