The Supreme Court declined in a 7-2 decision to hear the appeal of a school district that held their graduation ceremonies inside a church building, allowing a lower court ruling to stand that holding such an event inside a church is unconstitutional.

The anti-Christian group Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit in 1990 against the Elmbrook, Wisconsin School District which had been holding their graduation ceremonies inside a non-denominational church facility.  The anti-Christianists said the mere existence of Christian symbols in the building meant the school was promoting Christianity over all other religions.

While multiple lower courts ruled in favor of the school district, the anti-Christian group continued to file appeals until the full 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a three-judge 7^th Circuit panel and ruled in their favor.  The Supreme Court before their formal refusal to hear the case shelved the case for two years.

Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented from the majority.  Justice Scalia wrote that while a school district may have to act to soothe angry people, it doesn’t mean it’s the constitution’s job to soothe hurt feelings.  The justices also noted the flawed 7^th Circuit ruling was in conflict with the Supreme Court’s decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway, which stated that mere offense does not equate to coercion.