page_title: Girouard v. United States
section_title: Decision
hierarchical_section_title: Girouard v. United States / Decision
caption_attribution_description: English: Associate Justice William O Douglas
context_page_description: Girouard v. United States, 328 U.S. 61, was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. It concerned a pacifist applicant for naturalization who in the interview declared not to be willing to fight for the defense of the United States. The case questioned a precedent set by United States v. Schwimmer in 1929 that denied an applicant entry to the United States because of her pacifist stance. Girouard v. United States overturned that precedent by voting in favor of Girouard's religious freedom through allowing him to uphold his Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone died the day of the decision.
context_section_description: The Court held 5–3 that citizenship should be allowed. The majority stated that the oath aliens are required to take to become citizens does not require them to bear arms in defense of the United States. The court also drew support from the War Powers Act of 1941, enacted by Congress in 1942, which relaxed naturalization requirements for aliens who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, including those who served in non-combatant roles. The court explained that serving in a combatant role is not the only way to uphold and defend the US Constitution and that Girouard should not be denied citizenship because of his religious pacifism.
caption: Justice William O. Douglas wrote the majority opinion.
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