Court Opinion

ID: 9651513
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 16:21:14.530102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:10.610680
License: Public Domain

Barnes, J.,
concurring:
I concur in the result, but I would confine the decision to the application of Article 36 of the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of Maryland in regard to religious freedom. The majority correctly observes that the Supreme Court of the United States in Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U. S. 296, 60 S. Ct. 900, 84 L. Ed. 1213, 128 A.L.R. 1352 (1940) did indeed impose the provisions of the First Amendment of the Federal Constitution in regard to the free exercise of religion on the States allegedly under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The States, under the Supremacy Clause in the Federal Constitution and this State under Article 2 of the Declaration of Rights of the Maryland Constitution are obligated to recognize and apply this decision by the Supreme Court of the United States; and we have done this in Md. and Va. Eldership v. Sharpsburg, 249 Md. 650, 241 A. 2d 691 (1968). I have heretofore expressed my opinion that the decision in Cantwell v. Connecticut and its rather formidable progeny was in error and opened a Pandora’s Box of impositions of Federal judicial power upon the States with most unfortunate consequences. I have also heretofore explained in part, at least, the reasons for my opinion that selected portions of *156the first eight amendments to the Federal Constitution are not properly held applicable to the States through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (that clause itself being one portion only of the Fifth Amendment) and need not repeat those reasons here. See Brukiewa v. Police Commissioner of Baltimore City, 257 Md. 36, 78, 263 A. 2d 222, 231 (1970) ; State v. Giles, 245 Md. 342, 660-669, 229 A. 2d 97-102 (3967) ; Truitt v. Board of Public Works, 243 Md. 375, 411, 221 A. 2d 370, 392 (1966) ; State v. Barger, 242 Md. 616, 628, 639-644, 220 A. 2d 304, 311, 317-319 (1966) ; Montgomery County Council v. Garrott, 243 Md. 634, 650, 653, 222 A. 2d 164, 172, 176 (1966); and Hughes v. Maryland Committee for Fair Representation, 241 Md. 471, 491-513, 217 A. 2d 273, 285-298 (1966).
I merely wish to note that I have in no way changed my opinion in regard to what I believe to be a most unfortunate error by the Supreme Court. Indeed, as the unhappy results of this error unfold, my opinion in this regard is the more confirmed.
I have also, with deference, suggested that the error be remedied by the Supreme Court’s return to more orthodox constitutional doctrine. Failing this, the second remedy might well be by Congressional action under either Article III, Clause 2 of the Federal Constitution or under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment, itself. See Brukiewa v. Police Commissioner of Baltimore City, supra, 257 Md. at 78, 263 A. 2d at 231.
In my opinion, the public interest earnestly requires that the error be remedied. I hope that the remedy will soon come to pass.