In the Matter of David Griffin, Appellant v. Thomas A. Coughlin, III, as Commissioner of the New York State…

Summary

The Court held that conditioning an inmate's eligibility for expanded family visitation on participation in a state‑run addiction treatment program that incorporates Alcoholics Anonymous's religious‑oriented Twelve Steps violates the Establishment Clause, reversed the Appellate Division and granted relief to the petitioner; Justice Bellacosa dissented, arguing the program is secular and the majority erred on coercion.