VANITY---Anyone Know of Legal Case Citations of Exemptions Made on the Basis of Religious Beliefs?

Self | 10/19/2005 | Concerned

[Concerned]

Although I am interested in exemptions made for people of all faiths, I am particularly interested in exemptions that have been made for non-Christians.

[Concerned]

For example, I recall there was one case regarding a Muslim woman who tried to get a drivers' license in some state and was denied it because her religious beliefs prohibited her from removing her Burqa.

Does anyone know whether she won or lost at the Trial Court level, and who won on appeal (if any)? Does anyone know what state that happened in or whether it was a Federal case or State case?

Does anyone know the citation or where other such citations might be found?

Thanks!

[Alberta's Child]

I'm pretty sure that woman lost her suit. What I remember most about that case is that it generated one of the best political cartoons I've ever seen . . .

I'll have to do some research to look into this issue and come up with concrete examples of "special consideration" rulings.

[Concerned]

Any FReeper lawyers out there who know of any such cases?

[Dumb_Ox]

Check out the Beckett Fund, could be helpful.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I suppose that the "Sunday Blue Laws" in many states are government responses that support Christian beliefs. Forcing stores to remain closed on Sundays, restricting the sale of alcohol and other related restrictions have their roots in this country's Christian tradition. Indeed, making Christmas a national holiday certainly falls into that category. I understand that you are looking for specific court cases where someone's Christian beliefs led to a specific exception to a general rule. Perhaps allowing minors to drink the communion wine might be such an example.

[Concerned]

Thank your for your link to the Beckett Fund. It looks interesting and helpful.

I just wish all the case titles included a few brief words of description so you didn't have to open and read each of them to determine what the case was about.

[spunkets]

Scotus refused to allow the the Native American church it's sacramental peyote. Employment Division v. Smith (494 U.S. 872), SCOTUS 1990. Religious Freedom Restoraiton act was dumped on same/similar grounds. That is, the 1st Amend. don't mean what it says in plain English. It means whatever the govm't says it means.

[PAR35]

Have you tried findlaw? www.findlaw.com Search on religion.

Might find something of use here:

http://guide.corporate.findlaw.com/01topics/06constitutional/cases2.html

[Concerned]

TSSYF WROTE: "I understand that you are looking for specific court cases where someone's Christian beliefs led to a specific exception to a general rule. Perhaps allowing minors to drink the communion wine might be such an example."

Yes, I am looking for that, but I am also looking for cases in which exceptions to Fed/State Laws were made for non-Christians due to their religious beliefs (even if not specifically-written doctrine of a major religion).

Using the example I mentioned earlier re: the Muslim woman who was initially denied a Drivers' License because she refused to remove her Burqa for a photo for a Drivers' License...Did she win or lose? Who won on appeal?

If she won at the Trial Court level and/or won on appeal, have there been other cases in which a Christian won or lost on some related religious-belief issue, e.g. the SSN representing part of the Mark-of-the-Beast?

[Concerned]

Thanks! I'll check it out.

[grellis]

She lost the case. IIRC, the decision was upheld.

Driving is a privelege (sp? More coffee?) granted by the individual states, not a constitutionally guaranteed right.