Document: 485 U.S. 660 108 S.Ct. 1444 99 L.Ed.2d 753 EMPLOYMENT DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES the State of OREGON, et al., Petitioners,v.Alfred L. SMITH. Petitioners, v. Galen W. BLACK. Nos. 86-946, 86-947. Argued Dec. 8, 1987. Decided April 27, 1988. Syllabus On basis their employer's policy prohibiting its employees from using illegal nonprescription drugs, respondent drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation counselors were discharged for ingesting a small quantity peyote, hallucinogenic drug, sacramental purposes during religious ceremony Native American Church. It is undisputed that respondents are members church beliefs sincere. Respondents applied denied unemployment compensation by petitioner Employment Division under an Oregon statute disqualifying work-connected misconduct. The Court Appeals reversed. Supreme affirmed, reasoning that, although benefits denials proper law, Sherbert Verner, 374 398, 83 1790, 10 965, Thomas Review Bd., Indiana Security Div., 450 707, 101 1425, 67 624, required court to hold significantly burdened respondents' freedom in violation Free Exercise Clause First Amendment Federal Constitution. In reaching conclusion, attached no significance fact peyote possession felony Oregon, declaring legality did not affect analysis State's interest denying benefits, which must be found compensation, rather than criminal, statutes. Held: These cases remanded definitive ruling as whether use legal since question relevant federal constitutional analysis. Although Sherbert, Thomas, Hobbie Unemployment Comm'n, 480 136, 107 1046, 94 190, prohibited denial choose between fidelity cessation work, those all involved employee conduct was perfectly legal. Their results might well have been different had criminal conduct, protects " 'legitimate claims free exercise religion,' see Hobbie, U.S., at 142, S.Ct., 1050, has validly proscribed. If does prohibit if prohibition consistent with Constitution (a decided here), there right engage withhold respondents. If, on other hand, among States exempt statutory controlled substances prohibitions, may entitled protection. Pp. 1449-1452. No. 301 Ore. 209, 721 P.2d 445 (1986), 86-947, 221, 451 vacated remanded. STEVENS, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., WHITE, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, JJ., joined. BRENNAN, filed dissenting opinion, MARSHALL BLACKMUN, joined, post, p. ----. KENNEDY, took part consideration or decision cases. William F. Gary, Salem, Or., petitioners. Suanne Lovendahl, Roseburg, Justice STEVENS Court. 1 who after they ingested Both Division. held this denial, matter violated Constitution.1 conclusion state law punishable imprisonment up years.2 Because we persuaded alleged illegality analysis, granted certiorari, 916, 1368, 684 (1987), now vacate judgments remand further proceedings. 2 * Alfred Smith Black employed Douglas County Council Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Treatment (ADAPT), nonprofit corporation provides treatment abusers. qualified counselors, part, because former dependencies. As policy, ADAPT recovering abstain drugs.3 terminated employment policy. each them consisted single act church, sincere, motivated "misconduct" led discharge. 3 compensation. Petitioner considered applications series administrative hearings appeals,4 it determined should denied.5 rejected claim concluded ineligible work-related "misconduct."6 4 Appeals, considering issue en banc, reversed Board's decisions.7 petitions review both consider Constitution8 argued together, but issued separate opinions, fully analyzing issues only Smith. accordance usual practice,9 first addressed issue. concluded: 5 "Under Constitution's religion provisions, claimant shown his worship according dictates conscience infringed upon benefits. We do imply governmental rule person public services reason rests belief practice could impinge guaranteed Article I, sections 3. Nor revive distinction 'rights' 'privileges.' But here government disqualified job peyote. And one loses what employer permissibly considers misconduct, incompatible doing job, itself neutral rule, said. long disqualification religiously based peculiar particular most jobs remain open worker, believe worker vital necessity applying 'misconduct' exception law." 216, 445, 448-449 (1986). 6 Turning issue, reasoned our decisions 965 (1963), 624 (1981), respondent's freedom. also greater case Thomas. This rested premise Board erroneously relied proscribing dangerous drugs just financial integrity fund. Whether believed constrained disregard enforcement interest, so conceded entirely clear. paragraph court's reads follows: 7 "Nor state's more 'overriding' 'compelling' compelling justified However, interest. misconduct statutes, statutes concedes 'the commission not, itself, grounds ORS 657.176(3) permits commits connection work. . [T]he [claimant's] ingestion little direct bearing case." Ore., 218-219, P.2d, 450. 8 noted crime such lawful many jurisdictions.10 9 Black, Appeals' factual findings character use. referee's concerning somewhat sparse, sufficient support conclusions Church recognized religion, sacrament sincerely held. courts acknowledged role quoted length California Court.11 extensive quotation explains why permitted raises reach similar conclusion. II contend quantities comparable Christian ceremonies. Even though generally recreational strictly regulate medicinal purposes, assert requires some measure accommodation Alternatively, argue Oregon's general against applicable genuine ceremony. administer program conclude require awarded 11 agreed endorse reasoning. appears assumed, without specifically deciding, unlawful. That assumption influence disposition because, ground necessarily follow, however, employee's irrelevant claim. For through laws certain kinds violating Amendment, certainly follows impose lesser burden persons conduct. 12 There absolute "constitutional whose convictions cause unemployment." 409-410, 1797. three occasions, work he she faithful tenets her church. explained Sherbert: 13 "Governmental imposition choice puts same kind would fine imposed appellant Saturday worship." Id., 404, 1794. 14 Comm'n Fla., 190 gave rise termination legal;12 indeed, assumed immune regulation.13 reached engaging bigamy forbidden, even when dictated sincere convictions. Reynolds United States, 98 (8 Otto) 145, 25 L.Ed. 244 (1879). bigamist sent jail despite motivation surely refuse pay marriage counselor entered into bigamous relationship. protection 1049 (quoting Wisconsin Yoder, 406 205, 92 1526, 32 15 (1972)) (emphasis added), extend Neither nor confronted reasons form protected laws. ultimately necessary answer case, inappropriate receiving guidance status law.14 A substantial number jurisdictions exempted ceremonies legislative prohibitions substances.15 Constitution, Oregon. motivation. Thus, paradoxical appear, predicate correct evaluation understanding law. 16 Relying Rev. Stat. § 475.992(4) use, substance bloodstream constitute "possession" within meaning predecessor statute, Downes, 31 Ore.App. 1183, 572 1328 (1977), ceremonial unlawful.16 Attorney General advises us argument merit. absence unwilling possibility legislation regulating construed permit peyotism interpreted protect practice.17 Court's opinions these "exempt caselaw,"18 extensively so, lends credence 17 uncertain about appropriate decide See Ashwander TVA, 297 288, 346-347, 56 466, 482-483, 80 688 (1936) (Brandeis, concurring). unprotected code is, counsel affirming holding award unstated regardless criminality, erroneous. unlawful explanation make difficult distinguish holdings Hobbie. therefore proceedings inconsistent opinion. 18 ordered. 19 KENNEDY 20 whom BLACKMUN join, dissenting. 21 fired practicing religion. Department Human Resources deemed "misconduct connected work," 657.176(2)(a) accordingly Citing "compelling proscription drugs," assertion App. Pet. Cert. A20. disavowing any enforcing indistinguishable asserted 403, 1793, (1981). authority freely. Division, 212, 446 (1986); Em- ployment today strains transform straightforward presented impression not. 22 generation ago, established deny adherence practices unless "incidental [her] [is] 'compelling regulation subject power regulate. .' supra, 1793 (citation omitted). again recently last Term, reaffirmed Sherbert's where 'state denies benefit mandated belief,' resultant "must subjected strict scrutiny proof interest." 141, 717-718, 1431-1432 Where pursuant independent obligation ascertain legislature intended advance scheme. Cf. 407, 1795-1796. particularly scrutiny, blindly accept asserts court. See, e.g., Mississippi University Women Hogan, 458 718, 730, 102 3331, 3339, 73 1090 (1982) (all-women university fails intermediate "although recited 'benign, compensatory purpose,' failed establish objective actual purpose underlying discriminatory [statutory] classification") (footnote omitted); Hampton Mow Sun Wong, 426 88, 103-104, 96 1895, 1905-1906, 48 495 (1976) ("When Government overriding national justification ., due process legitimate presuming actually serve interest"); Weinberger Wiesenfeld, 420 636, 648, n. 16, 95 1225, 1233, 43 514 (1975) (under rationality review, "[t]his need face value assertions examination scheme history demonstrates goal legislation"). 23 Black—like Hobbie—were conflicted interests. difference before situations faced drugs,' merely avoiding 'burden Compensation Trust Fund' Sherbert. Smith, Board). Such present novel sought statute. 24 Far validating highest disavowed it. quotes length, ante, 666, scarcely clearer. understood overcome invoking theoretically plausible intention furthering enacted statute: "The peyote." 219, supra (relying Smith's analysis). find intent expressed reinforce drug-abuse bound state-court determination purpose, Stone Graham, 449 39, 41, 192, 193-194, 66 199 (1980), never attributed nowhere To responsibility scrutinize state-imposed burdens fundamental rights. At rate, offers discount disavowal purpose. rejected. I affirm avoids proclaiming instead difficulty discerning "[w]hether issue," 666. difficulty, own making, poses two implausible interpretations below overlooks natural one. 26 introduced passage stressing similarity interests 218, (the "state's [is no] "); id., 219-220, 450-451 ("The simply payment insurance fund claimants similarly situated," "Sherbert weighed rights claimant"). point comparison suggest, alternative interpretation does, discern additional (namely, laws) "constrained" "disregard." Moreover, much suggest constrain State. attorney good offer adopts, caveat "that apparent opinion," Tr. Oral Arg. 7. 27 accurate read passage, second binding concession issue." patently obvious "be statutes," 450, purported hotly disputed proposition challenge asserting very much: benefits." thus ambiguity below. 28 Perhaps puzzling imagined silence relevance. remands concluding "necessary predicate" pronouncement criminal. Ante, 672. seems me readily resolve depart long-standing scrutinizing rights, behalf have. 675-676. Accordingly, assume tacitly left option dispose reiterating initial appending, "and really mean it," words effect. 29 slot calendar precious costly. Inevitably, Term discovers painstaking briefing oral squarely resolve. always temptation trivialize defect thought undertaken virtual clone precedent undertook. Here, belated effort recoup sunk costs worth price. Today's foray realm hypothetical will cost respect misconstrue. price exorbitant where, here, likely respond efforts already stated unmistakable clarity. 30 dissent. "Congress shall respecting establishment thereof. ." Const., Amdt. 1. Ore.Rev.Stat. §§ 475.992(4)(a), 161.605(2) (1987); 2, (1986) (quoted 10, infra ). reflected ADAPT's philosophy successful recovery addiction complete abstinence drugs. served assure models clients. statement provided, pertinent part: "POLICY STATEMENT ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG USE BY EMPLOYEES "In keeping drug-free treatment, disease concept alcoholism, associated complex alcoholism addiction, following employees: "1. Use prescription nonprescribed manner immediate employment. "3. Any staff allowed, disciplinary action, including termination. defined alcoholic beverage, situation." 11. Raising identical presenting almost facts, proceeded tandem courts. They consolidated order certiorari granted. (1987). Each requested hearing application After hearings, referee Black's "an isolated incident poor judgment" 3-5. "there evidence record indicate granting caused significant impact trust fund, cannot warrants interference claimant's religion." A25. disagreed ruled "in Fund." A19-A20. finding pp. A23-A24. Rev.Stat. (1987) "[a]n individual receipt [h]as work." Admin.Rule 471-30-038(3) provides: provisions (b), wilful standards behavior expect employe. An amounts recurring negligence wrongful Isolated instances judgment, faith errors, unavoidable accidents, absences illness physical mental disabilities, mere inefficiency resulting lack skills experience 657.176." majority constituted protecting Fund depletion nature judges protectible base 75 735, 707 1274 (1985). light Black. 764, 709 246 provides, "Section 2. Freedom worship. All men secure Natural right, Almighty God consciences. No whatever control exercise, enjoyment interfere conscience." Sterling Cupp, 290 611, 614, 625 123, 126 (1981): sequence analyze required, sake either parochialism style, claimed met Linde, E Pluribus—Constitutional Theory Courts, Ga.L.Rev. 165, 178-179 (1984). commented footnote: OAR 855-80-020, crime. Peyote (Lophophora williamsii ) cactus 'contains active alkaloids varying properties; chief hallucinogen mescaline.' Note, Hallucinogens, 68 Colum L.Rev. 521, 525 (1968). construing previous users sanctions. Soto, Or App 794, 537 P2d 142 (1975), cert den 424 US 955, [96 1431, 47 361] (1976). several states caselaw, regulation. Whittingham, Ariz 504 950 (1973), 417 946 (1974); People Woody, 61 Cal 2d 716, 40 Rptr 69, 394 813 (1964); Whitehorn State, 561 539 (Okla Crim 1977); CFR 1307.31 (1985); Iowa Code Ann 204.204(8) NM Stat 30-31-6(D) (1980); SD Comp Laws 34-20B-14(17) (1977); Tex 4476-15 4.11 (1976)." 225-227, 451, 453-454 quoting Cal.2d 720-721, Cal.Rptr. 73-74, 813, 817-818 (1964): 'Peyote, see, plays central Church, organization Indians. official prerequisites membership, written membership rolls recorded theology, estimates range 30,000 250,000, wide variance deriving differing definitions "member." anthropologists ascertained conversations members, theology combines teachings embodies Holy Spirit partake enter contact God. 'Peyotism discloses history. reference Mexico Spanish historical sources early 1560. Peyotism spread Canada; describe country latter nineteenth century. Today, Indians tribes Peyotism. Despite dogma, follow surprisingly ritual theology; Navajo Arizona practically parallel adherents California, Montana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan. 'The "meeting," marked composes cornerstone meeting convenes enclosure continues sundown sunrise Sunday. give thanks past fortune future member "sponsor" supply attend next morning's breakfast. "sponsor," usually "leader," takes charge meeting; decides events amount consumed. leader exercises meeting, report striking uniformity ritual. 'A connotes solemn special occasion. Whole families children young women participate presence. Adherents don finest clothing, suits fancy dresses women, sometimes Indian costumes. pray, sing, drum, fan, eagle bone, whistle, rattle prayer cigarette, symbolic emblems faith. event, course, consists produce hallucinatory state. 'At fixed stage pass around bag buttons. adult take four, customary number, none. participants chew buttons, extreme bitterness; later, set time ask peyote; occasionally four Sunday ends; brief outdoor prayer, host family Then depart. By morning effects disappear; suffer after-effects. 'Although serves symbol bread wine churches, sacrament. constitutes object worship; prayers directed devoted Ghost. nonreligious sacrilegious. Members regard "teacher" induces feeling brotherhood members; indeed enables participant Deity. Finally, devotees treat "protector." Much Catholic carries medallion, G.I. often wears neck beautifully beaded pouch containing large button.' Saturday, Sabbath Day When turrets military tanks, prevented him participating production war materials. appellant's precluded Friday Saturday; scheduled shifts. other, carefully door stands tightly closed such, Cantwell Connecticut, 310 296, 303, [60 900, 903, 84 1213 (1940) ]. neither compel affirmation repugnant belief, Torcaso Watkins, 367 488 [81 1680, 982 (1961) ]; penalize discriminate individuals groups views abhorrent authorities, Fowler Rhode Island, 345 [73 526, 97 828 (1953) employ taxing inhibit dissemination views, Murdock Pennsylvania, 319 105 [63 870, 87 1292 (1943) Follett McCormick, 321 573 [64 717, 88 938 (1944) cf. Grosjean Press Co., 233, [56 444, challenges overt acts prompted principles, 'even action accord one's convictions, [it] totally restrictions.' Braunfeld Brown, 366 599, 603 1144, 1146, 563 actions regulated invariably posed threat safety, peace order. [8 Otto] 145 [25 (1879) Jacobson Massachusetts, 197 358, 49 643 (1905) Prince 158 438, 645 Cleveland 329 [67 13, 91 (1946) "Plainly enough, conscientious objection principles legislation." 402-403, 1793. nn. 11, supra. (exempting bona fide Church); (1985) (same); N.M.Stat.Ann. organizations); S.D. Codified Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann., Art. (Supp.1988) less 25% blood ceremonies). authorities cited Downes decided, proscribed substances. 1977, Legislature passed Uniform Controlled Substances Act, 475.005 seq. repealed discussed provision addresses 475.992(4). Our concern, unique bars prosecution, exemption scope

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