A member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church was fired by her employer because she refused
to work on Saturday, her faith’s Sabbath. After failing in her attempts to get another
job, she filed for unemployment compensation benefits. These were denied because the
South Carolina Employment Security Commission found that her reason for refusing to
accept ‘suitable’ work was not compelling. The woman’s claim that she was denied her
right to freely exercise her religion was rejected by the lower courts.
The Supreme Court ruling 7-2 in favor of the woman’s right to refuse to work on her
Sabbath without relinquishing her right to unemployment benefits.
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Majority Opinion: (Justice Brennan) |
There are two questions that need to be considered. First, did the State’s decision to
deny her benefits placed an ‘infringement’ on her constitutional right to practice her
religion? Next, did the State’s decision protect a compelling state interest? The
Court finds that there is clearly an infringement on the woman’s right to free exercise
because she was placed in the position of having to choose between the benefits and her
religious tenants. Receipt of the unemployment benefits should not be conditional on
certain religious decisions. The State has no compelling reason for denying the woman
benefits. The chance of fraudulent filings is not a serious enough concern to limit the
free exercise rights of citizens. By allowing Seventh Day Adventists the same rights as
people of other faiths, the Court is merely imposing neutrality rather than giving them
special rights.
This decision forced states to recognize the unique requirements of various faith
traditions. Recognizing these special needs does not constitute an endorsement of any
of these religions. The Court limited the scope of its opinion by stating, “Nor do we,
by our decision today, declare the existence of a constitutional right to unemployment
benefits on the part of all persons whose religious convictions are the cause of their
unemployment.”
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