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Court cases about the first amendment
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Reynolds v. United States
George Reynolds, a Mormon, wanted to marry two women but that was against the law. In court, Reynold claimed that it was his duty, as a Mormon, to be married to two women at the same time and that to prevent him from doing that would be a violation the first amendment . But the court sayed that there was a difference between religious belief and religious acts. Reynolds had four other argumentd that were overturned by the court. Reynold got a fine of $500 and had to do 2 years of hard labor. -
Murdock v. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Murdock, a Jehovah's witness, asked for money in exchange for books and pamphlets in the city of Jeannette in Pennsylvania. The city said that he was selling his items and that he had to have an ordinance for it. The city also wanted to tax him on his sells.
The supreme court decided that it would be unconstitutional to tax Murdocks sells. -
Kedroff v. Saint Nicholas Cathedral
There was a dispute between the russian synod and american Orthodoxes over who would control the cathedral in New York. The state of New York decided to give the americans the control over the Cathedral but the Russian synod did not accept it. The supreme court decided that it would be a violation of the first amendment and told the state of New York that they couldn't be part of the dispute. -
Torcaso v. Watkins
Torcaso, an Atheist, wanted to work as a notary public. But to get the job, he had to say that he believed in God. Because he didn't want to do it, he didn't get the job. In court, he said that it was a violation to his right to free belief. The supreme court decided that Torcaso shouldn't have to say that he believed in God and he got the job. -
Lynch v. Donnelly
In Pawtucket, Rohde Island, it was a tradition to decorate the shopping area with a creche. Some people said that this was against the establishment clause and wanted the creche to be removed. The supreme court said that it was not an attempt to impose christianity and let the city keep it's creche. -
Edwards v. Aguillard
In Louisiana, there was a law that said that if a teacher taught the evolution in class, he had to teach the creation thesis too. Some people thought that this was against the first amendment, the establishment clause. The supreme court said that the law was unconstitutional and canceled it. -
Corporation of the Presiding Bishops of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints v. Amos
Arthur Frank Mayson worked in a gymnasium held by 2 religious organizations but got fired because he wan't a member of the churches. In court, Arthur said that he was a victim of religious discrimination but the organizations said that they were excempted from the that law. The District Court decided that the Job was non-religious and that he shoudn't be fired for the reasons he was fired for. -
Board of education of Westside Community v. Mergens
Bridget Mergens and other students at the Westside High School wanted to create a Christian Bible Study Club but the school didn't accept it because they didn't have a sponsor among the teachers. The school also said that if they had a sponsor, it would mean that they endorsed the religion. The students said that the school violated the equal access act and sued it.
The supreme court decided that the students could start their club. -
R.A.V. v. the city of St. Paul
R.A.V., a teenager, and his friends had put a burning cross on an african-american family's garden. R.A.V. was charged for violating a local law saying that you can't put a racist symbol on someone else's property. The Supreme Court said that the law was against the first amendment and the boy was not proven guilty. -
Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. the city of Hialeah
The Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye wanted to build a school, a church and cultural center in the city of Hialeah. Because this religion included animal sacrifice at several ceremonies, the city passed laws forbidding it. The Church said that the city violated the first amendment and sued the city.
The supreme court decided that the laws were only appliable to that specific religion so they canceled them and the animal sacrifice were accepted.
