Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 14 of 14

Full-Text Articles in Law

Religious Exemptions As Rational Social Policy, Justin W. Aimonetti, M. Christian Talley Jan 2021

Religious Exemptions As Rational Social Policy, Justin W. Aimonetti, M. Christian Talley

University of Richmond Law Review

In its 1963 decision Sherbert v. Verner, the Supreme Court interpreted the Free Exercise Clause to permit religious exemptions from general laws that incidentally burdened religious practice. Sherbert, in theory, provided stringent protections for religious freedom. But those protections came at a price. Religious adherents could secure exemptions even if they had no evidence the laws they challenged unfairly targeted their religious conduct. And they could thereby undermine the policy objectives those laws sought to achieve. Because of such policy concerns, the Court progressively restricted the availability of religious exemptions. In its 1990 decision Employment Division v. Smith …


Nonprofit Organizations, For-Profit Corporations, And The Hhs Mandate: Why The Mandate Does Not Satisfy Rfra's Requirements, Jonathan T. Tan May 2013

Nonprofit Organizations, For-Profit Corporations, And The Hhs Mandate: Why The Mandate Does Not Satisfy Rfra's Requirements, Jonathan T. Tan

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.


A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Religious Persecution: Casting Up A Dread Balance Sheet, R. George Wright Jan 2013

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Religious Persecution: Casting Up A Dread Balance Sheet, R. George Wright

University of Richmond Law Review

No abstract provided.


Much Ado About Nothing Much: Protestant Episcopal Church In The Diocese Of Virginia V. Truro Church, Henry L. Chambers Jr., Isaac A. Mcbeth Nov 2010

Much Ado About Nothing Much: Protestant Episcopal Church In The Diocese Of Virginia V. Truro Church, Henry L. Chambers Jr., Isaac A. Mcbeth

University of Richmond Law Review

This essay reviews the issues the Supreme Court of Virginia resolved in Truro and notes important issues it did not resolve. Part II supplies the factual background and procedural history ofthe dispute. Part III summarizes the court's opinion and the reasoning underlying its determination that Virginia Code section57-9(A) is not applicable to this particular action. Part IV critiques the opinion, noting the issues the court resolved and how it resolved them. Part V briefly addresses issues that remain unresolved by the court's decision and discusses the implications of leaving those issues unresolved. Part VI presents the authors' conclusions.


"The Harvest Is Plentiful, But The Laborers Are Few": Hiring Practices And Religiously Affiliated Universities, Robert John Araujo Jan 1996

"The Harvest Is Plentiful, But The Laborers Are Few": Hiring Practices And Religiously Affiliated Universities, Robert John Araujo

University of Richmond Law Review

This is a paper with a modest goal about an immodest topic: how mankind does God's work in this world. In particular, I address a small part of this rather large question: how do religiously affiliated schools make their modest contribution to this work? More particularly, who gets chosen to be a laborer in bringing in the plentiful harvest. The laborer is the teacher or administrator, the vineyard is the religiously affiliated university or college of the late twentieth century United States. Consequently, I address employment practices: who gets hired as a laborer and by what criteria is this special …


Considering Religion As A Factor In Foster Care In The Aftermath Of Employment Division, Department Of Human Resources V. Smith And The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Thomas J. Cunningham Jan 1994

Considering Religion As A Factor In Foster Care In The Aftermath Of Employment Division, Department Of Human Resources V. Smith And The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Thomas J. Cunningham

University of Richmond Law Review

Most rights considered by Americans to be "fundamental" are granted a special level of protection by the decisions of the United States Supreme Court. The standard is often described as "strict scrutiny" or "compelling interest." Under this standard of protection, a state must have more than just a good reason for writing legislation that encroaches upon its citizens' fundamental rights. Rather, the state must be able to prove a "compelling" interest in achieving some desired result, a result which necessitates the curtailment of fundamental rights. In 1990, however, the United States Supreme Court substantially restricted a right from this list: …


Partially Disabled And Religious: Virginia Workers' Compensation And The Free Exercise Clause, Brydon Dewitt Jan 1994

Partially Disabled And Religious: Virginia Workers' Compensation And The Free Exercise Clause, Brydon Dewitt

University of Richmond Law Review

The Virginia Workers' Compensation Act denies wage loss benefits to partially disabled employees who unjustifiably reject employment procured by their employer which is within their remaining work capacity. Section 65.2-510 of the Virginia Code provides that "[i]f an injured employee refuses employment procured for him suitable to his capacity, he shall only be entitled to the benefits provided for in section 65.2-603 during the continuance of such refusal, unless in the opinion of the Commission such refusal was justified." Essentially, unjustified refusal of selective employment within the employee's work capacity results in a suspension in wage loss benefits until the …


Abraham, Isaac, And The State: Faith-Healing And Legal Intervention, Henry J. Abraham Jan 1993

Abraham, Isaac, And The State: Faith-Healing And Legal Intervention, Henry J. Abraham

University of Richmond Law Review

As a Cambridge magistrate in the England of 1960, Lady Rothschild doubtless considered herself an unlikely candidate for participation in a biblical drama reenactment. Nonetheless, on October 21, 1960, she willingly played the role of the last- minute angel of mercy in a virtual reenactment of the story of Abraham and Isaac -a story which, with unfortunate variations in the outcome for the child, seems destined to be repeated frequently in the future.


Is The Idea Of Human Rights Ineliminably Religious?, Michael J. Perry Jan 1993

Is The Idea Of Human Rights Ineliminably Religious?, Michael J. Perry

University of Richmond Law Review

The name of the state where I was born and raised-Kentucky-derives from a Native American word meaning "the dark and bloody ground." Were there an Indian word for "the dark and bloody time," it would aptly name this century, a century as unrelentingly dark and bloody as any in human history. In the midst of all the terrible inhumanity of the twentieth century, however, there is a hopeful story: the emergence in international law of the idea of human rights.


The Closing Of The Golden Door: Necessity, International Law And Freedom Of Religion Are Failing As Defenses For Sanctuary Movement Workers, Karen E. Lavarnway Jan 1991

The Closing Of The Golden Door: Necessity, International Law And Freedom Of Religion Are Failing As Defenses For Sanctuary Movement Workers, Karen E. Lavarnway

University of Richmond Law Review

Victor Walter Garcia Ortiz left El Salvador and came to the United States. In September 1980, he was deported from Los Angeles and returned to El Salvador. In November 1981, he was killed by the Salvadoran National Police. Santana Chirino Amayo was deported back to El Salvador in June 1981. In September 1981, his body was found, tortured and decapitated. Jose Umberto Santacruz Elias was returned to El Salvador in January 1981. He has not been heard from since. Octavio Osequeda, who was returned to El Salvador on July 12, 1982, was killed on July 13, 1982 by special police.


State Action Under The Religion Clauses: Neutral In Result Or Neutral In Treatment?, David K. Dewolf Jan 1990

State Action Under The Religion Clauses: Neutral In Result Or Neutral In Treatment?, David K. Dewolf

University of Richmond Law Review

The United States Supreme Court's treatment of the first amendment's religion clauses over the last fifty years has generated considerable controversy. While few religion clause cases reached the Supreme Court prior to 1940, the number steadily multiplied once the first amendment was incorporated into the fourteenth amendment. The Court's doctrinal development was incremental and uncertain, but by 1971 the Court had developed a test for each of the religion clauses to evaluate the constitutionality of challenged state action. Although these tests have not been followed with perfect fidelity, they have been the starting point for virtually all of the religion …


Court-Ordered Exemptions To Secure Religious Liberty, Gary C. Leedes Jan 1987

Court-Ordered Exemptions To Secure Religious Liberty, Gary C. Leedes

University of Richmond Law Review

Cases arising under the United States Constitution's religion clauses fall into four general categories. In the first category are establishment clause controversies involving the provision of government services or aid. For example, when the government seeks to provide educational assistance to all private schools, financial aid to parochial schools is usually challenged on establishment clause grounds.


Virginia Tax Laws Affecting Churches, J. Rodney Johnson Jan 1984

Virginia Tax Laws Affecting Churches, J. Rodney Johnson

University of Richmond Law Review

This is the second of two articles dealing with external church law in Virginia. The first article was a restatement of all Virginia laws relating to churches except for the tax laws. The subject of taxes was reserved for special treatment at that time because of the volume of tax-related materials. For the most part these materials consist of the various constitutional and statutory taxation provisions relating to religious charities and the opinions of the Virginia Attorney General interpreting and applying these provisions. Attorney General opinions take on a special importance in this study because there is only a handful …


Virginia Laws Affecting Churches - Restated, J. Rodney Johnson Jan 1982

Virginia Laws Affecting Churches - Restated, J. Rodney Johnson

University of Richmond Law Review

Twenty-five years ago, the late William T. Muse, then Dean of the University of Richmond School of Law, observed that although there was considerable law in Virginia relating to churches this law was widely scattered throughout the statutes and the cases. To remedy this state of affairs, Dean Muse wrote a concise but complete summary of these laws. In the quarter-century that has elapsed since Dean Muse's article was published, Virginia has adopted a new constitution, many church-related statutes have been enacted and a number of church-related cases have been decided, some of which have refined established principles and others …