Document: 472 U.S. 703 105 S.Ct. 2914 86 L.Ed.2d 557 ESTATE OF Donald E. THORNTON and Connecticut, Petitioners,v.CALDOR, INC. No. 83-1158. Argued Nov. 7, 1984. Decided June 26, 1985. Syllabus Petitioner's decedent, Thornton, worked in a managerial position at Connecticut store owned by respondent, which operated chain of New England retail stores. In 1979, Thornton informed respondent that he would no longer work on Sundays, as was required to employees. invoked the statute provides: "No person who states particular day week is observed his Sabbath may be employer such day. An employee's refusal shall not constitute grounds for dismissal." rejected respondent's offer either transfer him management job Massachusetts closed or nonsupervisory lower salary. Subsequently, transferred clerical store; resigned two days later filed grievance with State Board Mediation Arbitration, alleging discharged from manager's violation statute. The sustained grievance, ordering reinstate Superior Court affirmed Board's ruling, concluding did offend Establishment Clause First Amendment. Supreme reversed. Held: statute, providing observers an absolute unqualified right their chosen Sabbath, violates Clause. To meet constitutional requirements under Clause, must only have secular purpose foster excessive entanglement government religion, its primary effect advance inhibit religion. Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 602, 91 2105, 29 745. imposes employers employees duty conform business practices religious employee enforcing observance latter unilaterally designates. thus commands concerns automatically control over all interests workplace; takes account convenience those other do observe Sabbath. granting unyielding weighting favor interests, has impermissibly advances practice. Pp. 708-711. 191 Conn. 336, 464 A.2d 785 (1983), affirmed. Nathan Lewin, Washington, D.C., petitioner, Estate Thornton. Joseph I. Lieberman, Haven, Conn., Paul Gewirtz, respondent. Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari decide whether state provides 2 * early 1975, petitioner's decedent Thornton1 began working Caldor, Inc., stores; managed men's boys' clothing department Waterbury, store. At time, stores were Sundays pursuant law. Conn.Gen.Stat. §§ 53-300 53-303 (1958). 3 1977, following legislature's revision Sunday-closing laws,2 opened Sunday business. order handle expanded hours, every third fourth Sunday. Presbyterian initially complied demand total 31 1977 1978. October 1978, Torrington continued during first part 1979. November however, because Sabbath; protection § 53-303e(b) (1985), 4 dismissal."3 5 salary.4 March 1980, Arbitration (1985). 6 Respondent defended action ground had been "discharged" within meaning statute; also urged find violated Article 7 Constitution well After holding evidentiary hearing evaluated sincerity Thornton's claim concluded it based sincere conviction; issued formal decision sustaining grievance. framed statutory issue follows: "If discharge hours occurred Grievant's . .," violated; held "discharg[ing] Mr. refusing [on] Sabbath." App. 11a, 12a. ordered backpay compensation lost fringe benefits.5 Court, affirming 8 reversed, "clear purpose." Inc. 349, 785, 793 (1983).6 By authorizing each designate own off, evinced "unmistakable [of] allow[ing] persons wish worship freedom so." Ibid. court then "primary effect" religion "confers 'benefit' explicitly basis. Only are entitled day, penalized so doing." Id., 350, A.2d, 794. noted activities characterized "observance Sabbath" assess employees' sincerity, this type inquiry "exactly 'comprehensive, discriminating continuing surveillance' creates governmental entanglements between church state." 351, 794 (quoting 619, 2114, 745 (1971)). 9 certiorari, 465 1078, 104 1438, 79 760 (1984).7 affirm. II 10 Under Religion Clauses, guard against activity impinges freedom, take pains compel people act name any setting appropriate boundaries cases, frequently relied our Lemon, supra, guidance, we here. pass muster 11 challenged here guarantees employee, "states Sabbath," decreed matter conviction relieved what burden inconvenience fellow workers. arms whatever they Sabbath.8 12 essence, others adjust affairs command whenever employee. 13 There exception special circumstances, Friday observer employed occupation Monday through schedule—a school teacher, example; consideration if high percentage employer's force asserts rights same Moreover, there when honoring dictates cause substantial economic burdens compliance require imposition significant place observers.9 Finally, allows made reasonable accommodation proposals. 14 This contravenes fundamental principle articulated Judge Learned Hand: 15 "The Amendment gives one insist pursuit conduct necessities." Otten Baltimore & Ohio R. Co., 205 F.2d 58, 61 (CA2 1953). 16 As such, goes beyond having incidental remote advancing See, e.g., Roemer Maryland Bd. Public Works, 426 736, 747, 96 2337, 2345, 49 179 (1976); Education Allen, 392 236, 88 1923, 20 1060 (1968). III 17 hold Accordingly, judgment 18 Affirmed. 19 REHNQUIST dissents. O'CONNOR, whom MARSHALL joins, concurring. 21 applies test enunciated 612-613, 2111, (1971), concludes (1985) I agree, join Court's judgment. my view, law impermissible conveys message endorsement observance. 22 All employees, regardless orientation, value benefit bestows observers—the select refrain labor. Yet requires private confer valued desirable adhere belief. singles out and, concludes, without according similar ethical beliefs can little doubt objective public large perceive scheme precisely does today. Ante, ---- - ----. conveyed belief, detriment share it. cannot withstand scrutiny. 23 read suggesting provisions Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964 similarly invalid. These preclude employment discrimination person's reasonably accommodate unless undue hardship 42 U.S.C. 2000e(j) 2000e-2(a)(1). Like law, attempts lift practice imposed employers, hence sort specifically contemplated Free Exercise See Wallace Jaffree, 38, 83-84, 2479, ----, (opinion concurring judgment). therefore manifest valid outlawing race, color, sex, national origin assuring opportunity groups pluralistic society. Trans World Airlines, Hardison, 432 63, 90, n. 4, 97 2264, 2280, 53 113 (1977) (MARSHALL, J., dissenting). Since calls rather than extends requirement protecting observance, believe anti-discrimination died February 1982, while appeal pending before Connecticut. administrator estate suit behalf decedent's estate. legislature revised laws 1976 after existing unconstitutionally vague. Anonymous, 33 Conn.Supp. 55, 364 244 (Com.Pl.1976). modified permit certain classes businesses remain open. 53-302a new provision added, 53-303e, prohibited more six calendar guaranteed faith. 3, infra. Soon enacted, Common Pleas once again declared unconstitutional. 141, 366 200 (1976). limited requiring closing, 53-302a; consider validity 53-303e. tried hand enacting yet another Pub. 78-329, 1978 Conn.Pub. Acts 700-702; Caldor's Bedding Barn, 177 304, 417 343 (1979). Pleas, address constitutionality 53-303e remained until action. learned consulting attorney. 88a-90a. Section enacted laws. Apart 6-day Sabbath-observance provisions, see 2, remainder "(c) Any believes subsection (a) (b) section board mediation arbitration. If said finds (b), remedy will make whole, including but reinstatement former comparable position. "(d) No may, prerequisite employment, inquire applicant observes "(e) fined hundred dollars." collective-bargaining agreement provided "contrary [to employee's] personal convictions." 91a. refused challenge that, quasi-judicial body, authority 9a-10a. expressly chose Constitution. 346, 792, (1983). Connecticut's motion intervene defend 1098, 1588, 80 121 (1984). construed Conn.Bd.Med. Arb. 7980-A-727 (Oct. 20, 1980), 11a-12a; accord, G. Fox Co. Rinaldi, 8182-A-440 (Nov. 17, 1982) ("There question her sabbath [and if] termination result sabbath"). Following settled see, Bruno Department Consumer Protection, 190 14, 18, 458 685, 688 (1983) (per curiam), adopted construction 340-343, 789-790, is, course, binding federal courts. E.g., Brown Ohio, 161, 167, 2221, 2226, 187 (1977); Garner Louisiana, 368 157, 169, 82 248, 254, 207 (1961); Murdock City Memphis, Wall. 590, L.Ed. 429 (1875). valuable weekly off—typically weekend widely prized off. Other strong legitimate, non-religious, reasons wanting off For example, earned privilege seniority forced surrender observer; years service payment "dues" workplace simply compete observer's Similarly, like spouses working, back seat observer.

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