Braunfeld v. Brown (1960)
- Docket
- 67
- Decided
- 1960-01-01
- Category
- General
Summary
Question: Did the Pennsylvania blue law violate the First Amendment's protection of free exercise of religious beliefs? Conclusion: In a 6-to-3 decision, the Court held that the Pennsylvania blue law did not violate the Free Exercise Clause. The freedom to hold religious beliefs and opinions is absolute; however, the freedom to act (even in accordance with religious convictions) is not totally free from government restrictions. The Court found that the Sunday Closing Law had a secular basis and did not make any religious practices unlawful. The blue law is valid despite its indirect burden on religious observance unless the state can accomplish its secular goal of providing a uniform day of rest for all through other means. That an indirect burden, such as economic sacrifice, may be a result of the statute, does not make the blue law unconstitutional.