Source: https://www.legalcrystal.com/case/100079/gallagher-vs-crown-kosher-super-market
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Gallagher Vs Crown Kosher Super Market - Citation 100079 - Court Judgment | LegalCrystal
Save as PDF Add a Tag Add a Note Semantics Visualize Gallagher Vs. Crown Kosher Super Market - Court Judgment	LegalCrystal Citationlegalcrystal.com/100079CourtUS Supreme CourtDecided OnMay-29-1961Case Number366 U.S. 617AppellantGallagherRespondentCrown Kosher Super MarketExcerpt:
gallagher v. crown kosher super market - 366 u.s. 617 (1961)
appellees are members of the orthodox jewish faith, whose religion forbids them to shop on their sabbath (from sundown on friday until sundown on saturday) and requires them to eat kosher food; a group of orthodox rabbis and a corporation selling kosher food mainly to such customers. they sued in a federal district court to enjoin as unconstitutional enforcement of..... Judgment:
the statutes here involved do not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and they are not laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, within the meaning of the First Amendment, made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment. Pp.
366 U. S. 618
The principal issues presented in this case are whether the Massachusetts Sunday Closing Laws [
] violate equal protection, are statutes respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof.
These statutes do not prohibit Sunday business and labor by Sabbatarian observers so long as it disturbs no other person. However, this has been construed to forbid the keeping open of shops for the sale of merchandise.
Commonwealth v. Has,
122 Mass. 40. Permission is granted by local option for the Sunday operation after 1 p.m. of amusement parks and beach resorts, including participation in bowling and games of amusement for which prizes are awarded. Special licenses for emergency Sunday work may be obtained from local officials.
The equal protection arguments advanced by appellees are much the same as those made by appellants in
. They contend that the exceptions to the statute are so numerous and arbitrary as to be found to have no rational basis; [
] that the law permits the sale of certain food items sold by Crown, but limits this permission to selected types of stores; that the employees in the exempted activities are just as much in need of a day of rest as are Crown's employees. The three-judge District Court described the present statutory system as an "unbelievable hodgepodge," and sustained appellees' allegations.
The answers to these arguments are likewise similar to those given in
when the contentions are examined under the standards set forth in that opinion. Many of the exceptions in the Massachusetts Sunday Laws are
reasonably explainable on their face. Such items as tobaccos, confectioneries, fruits, and frozen desserts could have been found by the legislature to be useful in adding to Sunday's enjoyment; such items as newspapers, milk, and bread could have been found to be required to be sold fresh daily. [
] It is conceivable that the legislature believed that the sale of fish and perishable foodstuffs at wholesale would not detract from the atmosphere of the day, while the retail sale of these items would inject the distinctly commercial element that exists during the other six days of the week. It is fair to believe that the allowance of professional and amateur sports on Sunday would add to the day's special character, rather than detract from it. And the legislature could find that the circumstances attendant to the conduct of professional sports are sufficiently different from those of amateur sports to justify different treatment as to the hours during which they may be played. Furthermore, the legislature could determine that, although many retailers, including Crown, sell frozen desserts, to permit only a limited number of innholders, druggists and common victuallers to sell them on Sunday would serve the public purpose of providing these items on Sunday and, at the same time, limit the commercial activities ordinarily attendant to their sale. And, if such determination requires this limited number of stores to be open to serve the public interest, the employees of most of the stores are still protected by the statutory provision giving the employees another day of rest. To permit all stores which sell the exempted products to remain open on Sunday, but to limit them to the sale of the exempted items
. Thus, we hold that the Massachusetts Sunday Laws do not violate equal protection of the laws.
Appellees make several contentions that the statutes violate the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
they allege that the statutes are laws respecting an establishment of religion in that both their original and current purposes are to enforce the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath.
"Whereas complaint is made of great abuses in sundry places of this Government of prophaning the Lords day by travelers both horse and foot by bearing of burdens carrying of packes &c.; upon the Lords day to the great offence of the Godly welafected among us."
The Sunday regulations of the Massachusetts Colony were no different. The 1653 version spoke of the abuses of the Dishonor of God and the Reproach of Religion which were Grieving the Souls of God's Servants. Among other things, the statute forbade Drinking and Sporting on Sunday. The Colonial Laws of Massachusetts 132-133. In 1665, Neglect of God's Public Worship was made a crime.
at 133. Every person was required to apply himself to Duties of Religion and Piety on Sunday according to the 1692 statute which continued the ban on
Sunday sports. Charter of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England 13-14. The preamble to the new statute in 1761 retained the Religion and Piety language and added that Profanation of the Lord's Day is highly offensive to Almighty God. This statute retained and strengthened the former prohibitions.
at 392-394.
Acts and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 63. Thus, the statute's announced purpose was no longer solely religious. But this statute proscribed the Sunday attendance at any Concert of Music and Dancing in addition to the previously mentioned activities.
This law was reenacted in 1792. 2 Laws of Massachusetts 536
permits free open air concerts. It would seem that the objectionable language is merely a relic. The fact that certain Sunday activities are permitted only if they are "in keeping with the character of the day and not inconsistent with its due observance" does not necessarily mean that the day is intended to be religious; the "character" of the day would appear more likely to be intended to be one of repose and recreation. We are told that those provisions forbidding certain activities to be conducted within a set distance from a place of public worship are especially devoted to maintaining Sunday as the Sabbath. But because the State wishes to protect those who do worship on Sunday does not mean that the State means to impose religious worship on all.
. Although many of the more recently allowed Sunday activities may not commence prior to 1 p.m., others may be undertaken at any time during the day. And the contention that evening church services are being protected cannot be maintained, since most of those activities that begin after 1 p.m. may continue throughout the day.
Furthermore, the long list of exemptions that have been recently granted evidences that the present scheme is one to provide an atmosphere of recreation, rather than religion. The court below pointed out that, since 1858, the statutes have been amended more than seventy times. It would not seem that the Sunday sales of tobacco, soda water, fruit,
are in aid of religion. It would seem that the operation of amusement parks and beach resorts is in aid of recreation.
Report of the Legislative Research Council relative to Legal Holidays and their Observance, Mass.Leg.Docs., Sen.Doc. No. 525 (1960), 24. [
The earliest pronouncements of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts are further indication of the religious origin of the Sunday Laws. In
Pearce v. Atwood,
13 Mass. 324, 348 (1816), it was stated that the statute's sole object was
In Bennett v. Brooks,
9 Allen 118, 119, 91 Mass. 118, 119 (1864), the day was characterized as one "set apart for religious services and observances."
In 1877, a case arose in which a charge of violation of religious freedom was made. The Supreme Judicial Court relied on the Pennsylvania case of
Specht v. Commonwealth,
8 Pa. 312, and stated clearly:
122 Mass. 40, 42 (1877).
The court below characterized this decision as an
improvisation by the Massachusetts court. Of course, the court below was correct in deciding that it was not bound by the Massachusetts characterization of the statutes.
See Society for Savings v. Bowers,
349 U. S. 151
. But ten years later, in
Commonwealth v. Starr,
144 Mass. 359, 361, 11 N.E. 533, 534 (1887), another religious charge against the statute was made; it was rejected on the authority of
As the court below pointed out, there have been several cases [
] between 1877 and 1923 which gave a religious characterization to the statute. But in none of these cases was there a contention regarding religious freedom, and
none of the cases stated the statute's purpose to be exclusively religious. [
] Finally, in the only recent case passing on the Massachusetts Sunday Closing Laws,
Commonwealth v. Chernock,
336 Mass. 384, 145 N.E.2d 920 (1957), the court summarily dismissed the complainant's religious contention, relying on
The relevant factors having been most carefully considered, we do not find that the present statutes' purpose or effect is religious. Although the three-judge court found that Massachusetts had no legitimate secular interest in maintaining Sunday closing, we have held differently in
McGowan v. Maryland, supra.
And, for the reasons stated in that case, we reject appellees' request to hold these statutes invalid on the ground that the State may accomplish its secular purpose by alternative means that would not even remotely or incidentally aid religion.
appellees contend that the application to them of the Sunday Closing Laws prohibits the free exercise of their religion. Crown alleges that, if it is required by law to abstain from business on Sunday, then, because its owners' religion demands closing from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, Crown will be open only four and one-half days a week, thereby suffering extreme economic disadvantage. Crown's Orthodox Jewish customers allege that, because their religious beliefs forbid their shopping on the Jewish Sabbath, the statutes' effect is to deprive them, from Friday afternoon until Monday of each week, of the opportunity to purchase the kosher food sanctioned by their faith. The orthodox rabbis allege that the
These allegations are similar, although not as grave, as those made by appellants in
Braunfeld v. Brown, ante,
. Since the decision in that case rejects the contentions presented by these appellees on the merits, we need not decide whether appellees have standing to raise these questions. [
[For opinion of MR. JUSTICE FRANKFURTER, joined by MR. JUSTICE HARLAN,
[For dissenting opinion of MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN and MR. JUSTICE STEWART,
366 U. S. 642
The statutory sections immediately before the Court are Mass.Gen.Laws Ann. c. 136, §§ 5 and 6. The Massachusetts Sunday Closing Laws in their entirety may be found in Mass.Gen.Laws Ann. c. 136; c. 131, § 58; c. 138, §§ 12 and 33; c. 149, §§ 47 and 48; c. 266, §§ 113 and 117. Those sections considered particularly relevant are set forth in an
Davis v. City of Somerville,
128 Mass. 594 (1880);
Commonwealth v. Dextra,
143 Mass. 28, 8 N.E. 756 (1886);
190 Mass. 578, 77 N.E. 636 (1906);
Commonwealth v. McCarthy,
244 Mass. 484, 138 N.E. 835 (1923).
143 Mass. at 31, 8 N.E. at 759.
Lord's day, definition.
The Lord's day shall include the time from midnight to midnight.
Presence at games, sports, plays or public diversions on the Lord's day; exceptions.
Whoever on the
Establishing and maintaining public entertainment on the Lord's day.
Whoever offers to view, sets up, establishes, maintains, or attempts to set up, establish or maintain, or promotes or assists in such attempt, or promotes, or aids, abets or participates in offering to view, setting up, establishing or maintaining any public entertainment on the Lord's day, except as provided in section two, unless such public entertainment shall be in keeping with the character of the day and not inconsistent with its due observance and duly licensed as provided in section four, or whoever on the Lord's day acts as proprietor, manager or person in charge of a game, sport, play or public
License to hold public entertainment on the Lord's day; application; fee; suspension; revocation; hearing.
Except as provided in section one hundred and five of chapter one hundred and forty-nine, the mayor of a city or the selectmen of a town may, upon written application describing the proposed entertainment, grant, upon such terms or conditions as they may prescribe, a license to hold on the Lord's day a public entertainment, including musical entertainment provided by mechanical or electrical means, in keeping with the character of the day and not inconsistent with its due observance, whether or not admission is to be obtained upon payment of money or other valuable consideration, and, if the proposed entertainment described in the application is solely for the exhibition of motion pictures, for the benefit of patrons in a public dining room or for the use of television, the use of radio, or musical entertainment provided by mechanical or electrical means, the mayor or selectmen may grant an annual license therefor; provided, that no such license shall be granted to have effect before one o'clock in the afternoon, nor shall it have effect unless the proposed entertainment shall have been approved in writing by the commissioner of public safety as being in keeping with the character of the day and not inconsistent with its due observance. The application for the approval of the proposed entertainment by the commissioner shall be accompanied by a fee of two dollars, or, in the case of an application for the approval of an annual license, as herein provided, by a fee of fifty dollars. Any such license may, after notice and a hearing given by the mayor or selectmen issuing the same, or by said commissioner, be suspended, revoked or annulled by the officer or board giving
Maintenance and operation of enterprises at amusement parks, beaches or resorts on the Lord's day; licenses; suspension; revocation.
The mayor of a city or the selectmen of a town, upon written application therefor, and upon such terms and conditions as they may prescribe, may grant licenses for the maintenance and operation upon the Lord's day at amusement parks or beach resorts, so called, in such city or town, of any enterprise hereinafter described, for admission to which or for the use of which a payment of money or other valuable consideration may or may not be charged, namely: -- bowling alleys, shooting galleries restricted to the firing therein of rifles, revolvers or pistols using cartridges not larger than twenty-two calibre, photographic galleries or studios in which pictures are made and sold, games, and such amusement devices as may lawfully be operated therein on secular days; provided, that no such license shall be granted to have effect before one o'clock in the afternoon, nor shall it have effect unless the proposed enterprise shall, upon application accompanied by a fee of two dollars, have been approved in writing by the commissioner of public safety as provided in the case of public entertainments under section four. Any licensee hereunder may distribute premiums or prizes in connection
Licenses for operation of bowling alleys on the Lord's day.
In any city which accepts this section by vote of its city council and in any town which accepts this section by vote of its inhabitants, the city council, with the approval of the mayor, or the selectmen, as the case may be, may grant licenses for the operation of bowling alleys on the Lord's day between the hours of one and eleven post meridian; provided, that no such license may authorize the operation of bowling alleys on Easter, or on Christmas day if such day falls on the Lord's day. Every license granted hereunder shall specify the location of the place of business in which the license is to be exercised, and the license shall not be valid in any other place. Bowling alleys operated under such licenses shall be operated subject to such regulations and restrictions as shall be prescribed from time to time by the city council, with the approval of the mayor, or by the selectmen. Said regulations and restrictions shall be stated in the license. Said licensing authorities may at any time and without previous notice revoke licenses issued under this section if they have reason to believe that any provision of this section, or of any regulation or restriction prescribed thereunder, is being or will be violated.
Keeping open shops or warehouses and conducting business or doing work on the Lord's day.
Whoever on the Lord's day keeps open his shop, warehouse or workhouse,
Limit of operation of section 5.
The preceding section shall not prohibit the manufacture and distribution of steam, gas or electricity for illuminating purposes, heat or motive power; the distribution of water for fire or domestic purposes; the use of the telegraph or the telephone; the manufacture and distribution of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, acetylene and carbon dioxide; the retail sale of drugs and medicines, or articles ordered by the prescription of a physician, or mechanical appliances used by physicians or surgeons.
Sale of frozen desserts, frozen dessert mix or confectionery on the Lord's day.
In Boston, and in any other city or town which accepts this and section eight or has accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, in a city by its city council or in a town by the voters of the town at an annual town meeting, the licensing board or officer in such city or town, or if there is no such board or officer the aldermen of a city, or if there are no aldermen the city council, with the approval of the mayor, or the selectmen of a town, may grant, to any reputable person who on secular days is a retail dealer in frozen desserts and/or frozen dessert mix, confectionery, soda water or fruit and who does not hold a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages, as defined in section one of chapter one hundred and thirty-eight, a license to keep open his place of business on the Lord's day for the sale of frozen desserts
Permit for performance of necessary work or labor on the Lord's day.
The police commissioner of Boston, or any member of the police department having a rank not lower than that of captain and designated by said commissioner, or the chief of police or other officer in charge of the police department of any other city or of any town, or the chairman of the board of selectmen of any town, upon such terms and conditions as he deems reasonable, may issue a permit for the performance on the Lord's day of necessary work or labor which in his judgment could not be performed on any other day without serious suffering, loss, damage or public inconvenience. Such permit shall cover not more than one day and shall not be issued more than six days prior to the day for which it is issued.
Athletic outdoor sports or games.
In any city which accepts sections twenty-one to twenty-five, inclusive, by vote of its city council, or in any town which accepts said sections by vote of its inhabitants, it shall be lawful on the Lord's day to take part in or witness any athletic outdoor sport or game, as hereinafter provided, between the hours of one thirty and six thirty post meridian and, in the case of a baseball game commenced before the hour of six thirty post meridian, for such further time beyond said hour as may be necessary to complete said game; provided, that said game had been scheduled to commence at or before the hour of three post meridian, or is the second of two successive games to be played on the same day, the first of which had been scheduled to commence at or before the hour of two post meridian. In any such city or town it shall be lawful on the Lord's day to take part in or witness, as hereinafter provided, any indoor hockey or basketball game between the hours of one thirty post meridian and twelve midnight.
Licensed playgrounds or parks for athletic outdoor sports or games.
Such sports or games shall take place on such playgrounds, parks or other places as may be designated for that purpose in a license or permit issued by the city council, with the approval of the mayor, or by the selectmen; provided, that if, under any statute or ordinance, a public playground or park is placed under the exclusive charge and authority of any other officials, such officials shall, for that playground or park, be the licensing authority; and provided, that no sport or game shall be permitted in a place, other than a public playground or park, within one thousand feet of any regular place of worship.
Athletic outdoor sports or games not involving pecuniary reward, remuneration or consideration.
In any city or town wherein the corresponding provisions of this and the six following sections were in effect on the sixth day of December, nineteen hundred and twenty-eight, and which has not voted against said sections on resubmission as provided in section thirty-one, and has not accepted the provisions of sections twenty-one to twenty-five, inclusive, as provided in section twenty-one, it shall be lawful to take part in or witness any athletic outdoor sport or game, in which the contestants do not receive and have not been promised any pecuniary reward, remuneration or consideration whatsoever directly or indirectly in connection therewith, on the Lord's day between the hours of two and six in the afternoon as hereinafter provided.
Licensed playgrounds or parks for athletic outdoor sports or games not involving pecuniary award, remuneration or consideration.
Such sports or games shall take place on such playgrounds, parks or other places as may be designated for that purpose in a license or permit issued by the city council, with the approval of the mayor, or by the selectmen; provided, that if, under any statute or ordinance, a public playground or park is placed under
MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN and MR. JUSTICE STEWART dissent. They are of the opinion that the Massachusetts statute, as applied to the appellees in this case, prohibits the free exercise of religion.
their dissenting opinions in
366 U. S. 610
366 U. S. 616