Facts of the Case Alfred Smith and Galen Black, two Native Americans and members of the Native American Church, were fired from their jobs as counselors at a private drug rehabilitation organization because they had ingested peyote, a powerful hallucinogen, as part of a religious ceremony. The Oregon Employment Division denied them unemployment benefits because […]

Facts of the Case Three Amish fathers, Jonas Yoder, Wallace Miller, and Adin Yutzy, were prosecuted under a Wisconsin law that required all children to attend public or private school until age 16. The Amish community objected, arguing that high school attendance was contrary to their religious beliefs and way of life. The parents contended […]

Facts of the Case In 1981, the Alabama State Legislature passed a law authorizing a one-minute period of silence in all public schools “for meditation or voluntary prayer.” This statute was an amendment to a previous law that allowed for a moment of silence for meditation. Ishmael Jaffree, a parent of three children attending public […]

Facts of the Case In 1951, the New York State Board of Regents composed a non-denominational prayer to be recited voluntarily by students at the beginning of each school day. The prayer read: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.” […]