Thomas v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division

The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with Thomas' argument and reversed the ruling of the Employment Security Division. The Employment Security Division then appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court, which vacated the court of appeals' decision. It asserted that Thomas' decision to quit was not an exercise of religious belief but "a personal-philosophical choice." It further ruled that whatever burden was being imposed on Thomas' First Amendment right to religious practice was greatly outweighed by the state of Indiana's need to keep the unemployment compensation fund financially sound. It could only do this by keeping strict eligibility rules to deter people from making fraudulent or frivolous unemployment claims. Finally, the Indiana Supreme Court determined that to give financial assistance to someone who left his job on religious grounds would violate the First Amendment clause prohibiting the establishment of a state religion. Not to be deterred, Thomas then appealed again--this time to the U.S. Supreme Court.