Reynolds v. United States
Significance, Congress Strengthens The Anti-bigamy Law, The Supreme Court Destroys The Mormons' Hopes
Petitioner
George Reynolds
Respondent
United States
Petitioner's Claim
The Morrill Act, which made practice of polygamy a crime, violated his First Amendment right to freedom of religion.
Chief Lawyers for Petitioner
George W. Biddle and Ben Sheeks
Chief Lawyers for Respondent
Charles Devens, U.S. Attorney General, and Samuel F. Phillips, U.S. Solicitor General
Justices for the Court
Joseph P. Bradley, Nathan Clifford, Stephen Johnson Field, John Marshall Harlan I, Ward Hunt, Samuel Freeman Miller, William Strong, Noah Haynes Swayne, Morrison Remick Waite (writing for the Court)
Justices Dissenting
None
Place
Washington, D.C.
Date of Decision
5 May 1879
Decision
Polygamy was not protected by freedom of religion.
Related Cases
- Potter v. Murray City, 760 F.2d 1065 (10th Cir. 1985).
- Employment Division v. Smith, 485 U.S. 660 (1988).
Additional topics
- Richard Parmelee Robinson Trial: 1836 - Bill Easy And Frank Rivers, … Well Known To Every Pedestrian …", Hatchet, Cloak, And Tassel
- Reynolds v. U.S.: 1879 - Congress Strengthens Anti-bigamy Law, The Supreme Court Destroys Mormons' Hopes, Suggestions For Further Reading
- Reynolds v. United States - Significance
- Reynolds v. United States - Further Readings
- Reynolds v. United States - Congress Strengthens The Anti-bigamy Law
- Reynolds v. United States - The Supreme Court Destroys The Mormons' Hopes
- Other Free Encyclopedias
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