| Case
Name |
Year | Decision
of the Court | Topic
Group(s) | |
| Hamilton v. Regents of Univ. of California, 293 U.S. 245 | 1934 | Due process clause of Fourteenth Amendment confers no right to attend state university without taking prescribed course in military training. |
Military Service
| |
| Falbo v. United States, 320 U.S. 549 | 1944 | Draft board's alleged error in classifying Jehovah's Witness as conscientious object rather than minister is no defense to board's order to report for national service; post-reporting review of the classification is sufficient due process. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Religious Liberty
Military Service
| |
| In re Summers, 325 U.S. 561 | 1945 | Turning down bar applicant for refusal to take oath supporting state's constitution because unwilling to serve in militia in time of war does not violate religious freedom. |
Military Service
Oaths
| |
| Eagles v. United States ex rel. Horowitz, 329 U.S. 317 | 1946 | Draft board was within its discretion in denying a Jewish objector's claim to be exempt divinity student. |
Military Service
| |
| Eagles v. United States ex rel. Samuels, 329 U.S. 304 | 1946 | Neither use of advisory theological panel to assist draft board nor panel's asking religious questions are reasons to overturn board's discretion in denying a Jewish objector's claim to be an exempt divinity student. |
Military Service
| |
| Estep v. United States, 327 U.S. 114 | 1946 | Draft board's refusal to classify Jehovah's Witness as minister is, after exhausting administrative remedies, subject to judicial review. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| Gibson v. United States, 329 U.S. 338 | 1946 | Jehovah's Witness minister could appeal his classification without first appearing at induction camp. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
Military Service
| |
| Cox v. United States, 332 U.S. 442 | 1947 | Courts have limited scope of review over board's classification of Jehovah's Witness as conscientious objector rather than minister. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| Gara v. United States, 340 U.S. 857 (aff'd by equally divided Court) | 1950 | Notwithstanding religious scruples, defendant is subject to military draft. |
Military Service
| |
| Dickinson v. United States, 346 U.S. 389 | 1953 | Classification as minister is not available to all members of a sect notwithstanding doctrine that all are ministers; but part-time secular work does not, without more, disqualify member from satisfying the ministerial exemption. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| United States v. Nugent, 346 U.S. 1 | 1953 | Conscientious objector has not shown induction statute to be unconstitutional. |
Military Service
| |
| Gonzales v. United States, 348 U.S. 407 | 1955 | Jehovah's Witness was denied fair hearing because of failure to supply him with materials in his record. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| Sicurella v. United States, 348 U.S. 385 | 1955 | Willingness to fight in "theocratic" wars does not disqualify a Jehovah's Witness who would otherwise be eligible for exemption as a conscientious objector. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| Simmons v. United States, 348 U.S. 397 | 1955 | Jehovah's Witness was denied fair hearing because of failure to supply him with materials in his record. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| Witmer v. United States, 348 U.S. 375 | 1955 | Draft board's rejection of Jehovah's Witness' claim of conscientious objector status upheld as lacking sincerity. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
| |
| United States v. Seeger, 380 U.S. 163 | 1965 | Conscientious objectors are exempted from combat training and service in armed forces if their belief is sincere and meaningful and occupies a place in their life parallel to that filled by an orthodox belief in God. |
Military Service
| |
| Oestereich v. Selective Service System, 393 U.S. 233 | 1968 | Individual classified as divinity student could not lose exemption by sending board his draft card as protest. |
Military Service
| |
| Mulloy v. United States, 398 U.S. 410 | 1970 | Lapsed Roman Catholic who returned to the faith and applied for conscientious objector status could not be denied opportunity for reclassification, thus also affording opportunity for administrative appeal. |
Military Service
| |
| United States v. Sisson, 399 U.S. 267 (plurality) | 1970 | Non-religious objections to draft, religious exemptions, and legality of Vietnam War claims were dismissed because case had been improperly appealed. |
Military Service
| |
| Welsh v. United States, 398 U.S. 333 (plurality) | 1970 | Beliefs held with strength of traditional religious convictions are entitled to conscientious objector status. |
Military Service
| |
| Clay v. United States, 403 U.S. 698 (per curiam) | 1971 | Conviction of Black Muslim for refusing induction is reversed when government conceded pacifism and sincerity. |
Military Service
| |
| Hernandez v. Veterans' Administration, 415 U.S. 391 | 1974 | Constitutional challenge by conscientious objectors to denial of veteran educational benefits not barred by statute. |
Discrimination Against Religion
Military Service
Vouchers
| |
| Johnson v. Robison, 415 U.S. 361 | 1974 | Statute which grants educational benefits to military draftees, but not to draftees who perform civilian alternative service, is constitutional. |
Discrimination Against Religion
Military Service
Vouchers
| |
| Thomas v. Review Bd., 450 U.S. 707 | 1981 | Denial of unemployment benefits because religious beliefs forbade production of armaments violated First Amendment. |
Jehovah's Witnesses
Military Service
Unemployment Compensation
| |
