Watson v. Jones

[3][2] Because the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church had a clear internal authority structure, the court granted control of the property to that group, even though it was only supported by a minority of the congregation.[2] Watson v. Jones was decided on common law grounds in a diversity action without explicit reliance on the First Amendment.A constitutionalization of the rule was made in Kedroff v. St. Nicholas Cathedral, in which the Court held unconstitutional a state statute that recognized the autonomy and authority of those North American branches of the Russian Orthodox Church which had declared their independence from the general church.Recognizing that Watson v. Jones had been decided on non-constitutional grounds, the Court thought nonetheless that the opinion "radiates .a spirit of freedom for religious organizations, and independence from secular control or manipulation—in short, power to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine."
Supreme Court of the United StatesL. Ed.U.S. LEXISSalmon P. ChaseSamuel NelsonNathan CliffordNoah H. SwayneSamuel F. MillerDavid DavisStephen J. FieldWilliam StrongJoseph P. BradleyUnited States Supreme CourtChurch property disputes in the United StatesLouisvilleKentuckycommon lawFirst AmendmentU.S. Supreme CourtEstablishment ClauseFirst Amendment to the United States ConstitutionMarsh v. ChambersLynch v. DonnellyBoard of Trustees of Scarsdale v. McCrearyCounty of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties UnionVan Orden v. PerryMcCreary County v. American Civil Liberties UnionPleasant Grove City v. SummumSalazar v. BuonoTown of Greece v. GallowayAmerican Legion v. American Humanist AssociationWalz v. Tax Comm'n of the City of New YorkBob Jones University v. United StatesEstate of Thornton v. Caldor, Inc.Corp. of Presiding Bishop v. AmosTexas Monthly, Inc. v. BullockCity of Boerne v. FloresCutter v. WilkinsonEverson v. Board of EducationFlast v. CohenLemon v. KurtzmanTilton v. RichardsonCommittee for Public Education v. NyquistValley Forge Christian College v. Americans United for Separation of Church & StateMueller v. AllenAguilar v. FeltonWitters v. Washington Department of Services for the BlindZobrest v. Catalina Foothills School DistrictBoard of Ed. of Kiryas Joel Village School Dist. v. GrumetAgostini v. FeltonMitchell v. HelmsZelman v. Simmons-HarrisLocke v. DaveyArizona Christian Sch. Tuition Org. v. WinnTrinity Lutheran Church v. ComerEspinoza v. Montana Department of RevenueCarson v. MakinOklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. DrummondMcCollum v. Board of EducationZorach v. ClausonEngel v. VitaleAbington School District v. SchemppEpperson v. ArkansasStone v. GrahamWallace v. JaffreeEdwards v. AguillardWestside Community Board of Ed. v. MergensLee v. WeismanSanta Fe Ind. School Dist. v. DoeElk Grove Unif. School Dist. v. NewdowKennedy v. Bremerton School Dist.Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School Dist.Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board v. PinetteRosenberger v. Univ. of VirginiaGood News Club v. Milford Central SchoolShurtleff v. City of BostonUnited States v. BallardPresbyterian Church v. Hull ChurchSerbian Orthodox Diocese v. MilivojevichHein v. Freedom From Religion FoundationBlue lawsMcGowan v. MarylandBraunfeld v. BrownTorcaso v. WatkinsMcDaniel v. PatyHarris v. McRaeLarkin v. Grendel's Den, Inc.Bowen v. KendrickTrump v. Hawaii