Epperson v. Arkansas

393 U.S. 97 (1968)

Facts

The State of Arkansas adopted a statute in 1928 that prohibited the teaching of evolution in the classroom. This was an adoption of the famous monkey law from the Scopes case in Tennessee. Epperson had a master's degree in zoology and was employed by the Little Rock school system to teach 10th-grade biology in High School. Epperson was given a new textbook to use for the 1965 academic year and was faced with the teaching of evolution. Epperson (P) instituted an action in the Chancery Court of the State seeking a declaration that the statute is void and that P would not be fired for teaching evolution. The Chancery Court ruled in her favor. On appeal, the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.