Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of the State of Oregon v. Smith (1987)
- Docket
- 86-946
- Decided
- 1987-01-01
Summary
Question: Can a state deny unemployment benefits to a worker fired for using prohibited drugs for religious purposes? Conclusion: Undecided. Justice John Paul Stevens delivered the opinion for a 5-3 court. The Court instructed the Oregon Supreme Court to determine whether peyote usage for religious purposes is prohibited under Oregon law, or only by the employer. The Court required this information to consider the constitutionality of the denial of benefits.