Document: 489 U.S. 829 109 S.Ct. 1514 103 L.Ed.2d 914 William A. FRAZEE, Appellant,v.ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY et al. No. 87-1945. Argued March 1, 1989. Decided 29, Syllabus Appellant, who refused a temporary retail position because the job would have required him to work on Sunday in violation of his personal religious beliefs, applied for, and was denied, unemployment compensation benefits. The denial affirmed by an administrative review board, Illinois Circuit Court, State Appellate which found that since appellant not member established sect or church did claim refusal resulted from tenet, belief, teaching body, professed although unquestionably sincere, good cause for Sunday. Held: benefits ground based tenets dogma violated Free Exercise Clause First Amendment as States through Fourteenth Amendment. Sherbert v. Verner, 374 398, 83 1790, 10 965, Thomas Review Bd. Indiana Employment Security Div., 450 707, 101 1425, 67 624, Hobbie Unemployment Appeals Comm'n Florida, 480 136, 107 1046, 94 190, rested fact each claimants had sincere belief religion her refrain question, consideration them particular any tenet forbidding such work. While membership simplify problem identifying sincerely held notion one must be responding commands organization protection is rejected. sincerity nature appellant's questioned courts below conceded State, offered no justification burden placed right exercise religion. has become way life does constitute state interest sufficiently compelling override legitimate free-exercise claim, there evidence will mass movement away employment if succeeds claim. Pp. 832-835. 159 Ill.App.3d 474, 111 Ill.Dec. 400, 512 N.E.2d 789, reversed remanded. WHITE, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. David French, Ann Arbor, Mich., appellant. Robe t J. Ruiz, Chicago, Ill., appellees. Justice WHITE 1 Insurance Act provides "[a]n individual shall ineligible he failed, without cause, either apply available, suitable when so directed . accept him. ." Ill.Rev.Stat., ch. 48, ¶ 433 (1986). In April 1984, Frazee Kelly Services told that, Christian, could "the Lord's day." then Department claiming His application denied. appealed Security's Board Review, also denied stated: "When convictions, upon some accepted church, sect, denomination, solely individual's noncompelling render unsuitable." App. 18-19. concluded offer cause. Court Tenth Judicial Illinois, Peoria County, affirmed, finding agency's decision "not contrary law nor against manifest weight evidence," thereby rejecting Frazee's Id., at 23. 2 free again rejected Third District. 789 (1987). court characterized resting "personal belief," made it clear question plaintiff," id., 475, 477, Ill.Dec., 401, 402, N.E.2d, 790, 791. It engaged historical discussion prohibitions Sabbath and, particular, Nonetheless, distinguished 965 (1963); 624 (1981); 190 (1987), facts case. Unlike Sherbert, Thomas, Hobbie, "tenet, body." Ill.App.3d, To court, "a Christian" felt wrong enough. For succeed, said injunction labor sect. [Frazee] profess sect." 478-479, 403, 792. Supreme leave appeal. 3 mandatory appellate jurisdiction this invoked under 28 U.S.C. § 1257(2), challenge constitutionality Illinois' statutory "good cause" requirement We noted probable jurisdiction, 488 814, 50, 102 29 (1988), now reverse. 4 more than occasion before today consider denials those basis their beliefs. supra, 37 U.S., 410, S.Ct., 1797, "constitutionally eligibility provisions [of its unemployment-compensation program] constrain worker abandon convictions respecting day rest." State's award terminated beliefs forbade participation production armaments exercise. Just two years ago, Florida's employee discharged adopted subsequent declared Clause. these cases, "forced choose between fidelity employment," 144, 1051, we forfeiture choosing former over latter brings unlawful coercion bear employee's choice" ibid. Constitution, 5 true, noted, cases but none decisions turned involved claimant perform. Our judgments question. Never suggest unless belongs forbids what requires, however deemed purely preference rather belief. Indeed, disagreement among members whether sinful factory; considered irrelevant issue hence submission formally armaments, Thomas' qualify Because prevented doing work, entitled invoke 6 There doubt "[o]nly rooted are protected Clause," 713, 1430. Purely secular views do suffice. United Seeger, 380 163, 85 850, 13 733 (1965); Wisconsin Yoder, 406 205, 215-216, 92 1526, 1533, 32 15 (1972). Nor underestimate difficulty distinguishing determining held. clearly assure themselves ample predicate invoking face problems about however. sincerity, concedes it. Tr. Oral Arg. 35. Furthermore, "religious convictions," 18, referred 790.1 7 asserted Christian true assorted denominations compelled refuse diminish flowing settled much. Undoubtedly, organized especially with specific Sunday, reject Clause, organization. Here, Under our protection.2 8 appear defend aspect below. brief oral argument, demand adherence Instead, proposes own test "religious" asserts met test, asks affirm basis. decline address submission; case comes us, conviction recognized inadequate claimed represent member. That erroneous. 9 offers places ascribed great significance America's weekend life. asked: "What professional football, baseball, basketball, tennis were barred. Today only religion, recreation labor. supermarkets open, service stations dispense fuel, utilities continue serve people factories belch smoke tangible products," concluding "[i]f all Americans abstain working chaos result." 478, unpersuaded, however, employ As where "no record indicate number find predicament large enough create 'widespread unemployment,' even seriously affect unemployment," 719, 1432, nothing us shopping, sporting, matter, grind halt result today. And, past, may exist interests No i terest been presented here. 11 judgment District therefore reversed, remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 12 ordered. From very first report Division claims adjudicator, described "due convictions." r referee's determination, "I me Biblical principles, scripture Exodus 20: 8, 9, 10. Remember keeping holy. Six days you labour your seventh Lord God. On work." 715, 1430, (1981), might "so bizarre, nonreligious motivation, Clause." But avails itself indicates, Christians cannot bizarre incredible.

Category: 2