Also known as: religious beliefs
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A sincerely held conviction or faith concerning ultimate questions of existence, morality, or divinity that occupies a central place in an individual's life.
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Regina Robinson called Ralph Richardson to testify that a store floor was wet. Defense counsel sought to ask Richardson about his membership in a religious group boycotting the store. The court sustained an objection and barred the questions because they targeted religious belief to attack credibility.
Ronald Reed, a member of a religious group, claimed his second marriage fulfilled a sacred duty. The prosecution introduced evidence of the marriage and the court instructed the jury that religious belief supplied no defense to the criminal charge.
Rosa Ruiz, a married woman, sought contraceptive advice from a clinic. State law criminalized distribution. The court held that the statute invaded the zone of privacy protecting decisions grounded in moral and religious belief.
Riley Rivera testified for the prosecution. Defense counsel attempted to show bias by asking about Rivera's membership in a religious sect. The court excluded the questions because they rested solely on religious belief to attack credibility.
Rina Rahman remained silent during hours of questioning. An officer asked whether she prayed for forgiveness. The court held that the religious reference did not render her later statement involuntary.
Reliance Insurance challenged a state ban on distributing contraceptives to minors. The court struck down the restriction, finding it burdened decisions rooted in personal moral and religious belief.
No. Federal evidence rules prohibit any use of a witness's religious beliefs or opinions to attack or support credibility, even when counsel frames the inquiry as bias evidence.
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Yes. A state must grant unemployment benefits when an individual resigns because work conflicts with sincerely held religious beliefs, regardless of whether the belief is shared by a formal denomination.
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No. Courts may inquire only into the sincerity of asserted beliefs. They may not evaluate their truth or falsity when adjudicating fraud or similar claims.
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…in the relationship of marriage should be left to personal and private choice, based upon each individual's moral, ethical, and religious beliefs. As a matter of social policy, I think professional counsel about methods of birth control should be available to all, so that each individual's choice can be meaningfully made. But we are…