The U.S. Supreme Court hearing commenced on October 16, 1968, and its unanimous decision was announced on November 12, 1968. It found the reasons given in the Arkansas reversal were in error. The court went on to say the clear purpose of the Arkansas statute against the teaching of evolution was to protect a particular religious view, and was thus unconstitutional. In a decision written by Justice Abe Fortas, the Court held, The overriding fact is that Arkansas’ law selects from the body of knowledge a particular segment which it proscribes for the sole reason that it is deemed to conflict with a particular religious doctrine; that is, with a particular interpretation of the Book of Genesis by a particular religious group.
