Reynolds v. United States

jgoldman — Thu, 14 Nov 1878 13:00:00 +0000

Location

The Endowment House (Where Reynolds married his second wife)

50 East North Temple Salt Lake City UT 84150

Salt Lake City, UT 84150

United States

40° 46' 12.27" N, 111° 53' 27.7692" W

See map: Google Maps

Case Basics

Appellant

George Reynolds

Petitioner Type

Appellant

Appellee

United States

Respondent Type

Appellee

Heard By

Waite Court (1877-1880)

Decided By

Waite Court (1877-1880)

Opinion

98 U.S. 145 (1879)

Argued

November 14-15, 1878

Decided

Monday, January 6, 1879

Advocates

George W. Biddle (argued the cause for the appellant)

Ben Sheeks (argued the cause for the appellant)

Charles Devens (Attorney General, Department of Justice, argued the cause for the United States)

Samuel F. Phillips (Solicitor General, Department of Justice, argued the cause for the United States)

Facts of the Case

George Reynolds, secretary to Mormon Church leader Brigham Young, challenged the federal anti-bigamy statute. Reynolds was convicted in a Utah territorial district court. His conviction was affirmed by the Utah territorial supreme court.

Question

Does the federal anti-bigamy statute violate the First Amendment's free exercise clause because plural marriage is part of religious practice?

Conclusion

No. Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite, writing for a unanimous court, held that the statute can punish criminal activity without regard to religious belief. The First Amendment protected religious belief, but it did not protect religious practices that were judged to be criminal such as bigamy. Those who practice polygamy could no more be exempt from the law than those who may wish to practice human sacrifice as part of their religious belief.

Cases - 1878 term

Reynolds v. United States

Location