Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/16pdf/15-577_khlp.pdf
Page Number: 24.0

Cite as:  582 U. S. ____ (2017) 

3 

GORSUCH, J., concurring in part 

with  respect  to  playground  resurfacing.”    Of  course  the 
footnote  is  entirely  correct,  but  I  worry  that  some  might 
mistakenly read it to suggest that only “playground resur-
facing”  cases,  or  only  those  with  some  association  with
children’s  safety  or  health,  or  perhaps  some  other  social
good we find sufficiently worthy, are governed by the legal
rules  recounted  in  and  faithfully  applied  by  the  Court’s
opinion.    Such  a  reading  would  be  unreasonable  for  our 
cases  are  “governed  by  general  principles,  rather  than
ad hoc improvisations.”  Elk Grove Unified School Dist. v. 
Newdow,  542  U. S.  1,  25  (2004)  (Rehnquist,  C. J.,  concur-
ring in judgment).  And the general principles here do not 
permit discrimination against religious exercise—whether
on the playground or anywhere else.