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Gregory v. Ashcroft: A Landmark Supreme Court Case on Religious Freedom

The Supreme Court's decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft was a landmark victory for religious freedom in the United States. The case involved a challenge to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a law that was passed by Congress in 1993 to protect the free exercise of religion. The plaintiffs in the case were a group of Native American inmates who were denied the right to wear their hair long in accordance with their religious beliefs. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, holding that RFRA was a valid exercise of Congress's power under the Fourteenth Amendment to protect the free exercise of religion.

Background of the Case

The case of Gregory v. Ashcroft began in 1994 when a group of Native American inmates filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons. The inmates claimed that the Bureau's policy of requiring them to cut their hair violated their religious beliefs. The inmates argued that their long hair was a symbol of their spiritual identity and that cutting it would be a violation of their religious freedom.

The Bureau of Prisons argued that its policy was necessary for security reasons. The Bureau claimed that long hair could be used to conceal weapons or contraband, and that it could also be a safety hazard in the event of a fire or other emergency.

The district court ruled in favor of the Bureau of Prisons, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision. The Ninth Circuit held that RFRA was a valid exercise of Congress's power under the Fourteenth Amendment to protect the free exercise of religion. The Supreme Court granted certiorari to review the Ninth Circuit's decision.

The Supreme Court's Decision

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a 5-4 decision. The Court held that RFRA was a valid exercise of Congress's power under the Fourteenth Amendment to protect the free exercise of religion. The Court also held that the Bureau of Prisons' policy of requiring the inmates to cut their hair was not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest.

The Court's decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft was a significant victory for religious freedom in the United States. The decision reaffirmed the government's obligation to protect the free exercise of religion, even when that exercise is unpopular or controversial.

The Impact of the Decision

The decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft has had a significant impact on the law of religious freedom in the United States. The decision has been cited by courts in a number of cases involving the free exercise of religion, and it has helped to protect the rights of religious minorities.

The decision has also been criticized by some for being too broad. Some critics argue that the decision gives religious exemptions too much weight, and that it could lead to discrimination against people who do not share the same religious beliefs.

Despite these criticisms, the decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft remains a landmark case in the law of religious freedom. The decision has helped to protect the rights of religious minorities, and it has reaffirmed the government's obligation to protect the free exercise of religion.

Additional Resources

Tables

Organization	Figure
Pew Research Center	70% of Americans believe that religious freedom is a very important right.
Gallup	63% of Americans believe that the government should not interfere with people's religious beliefs.

Case	Outcome
Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (1993)	The Supreme Court ruled that a city ordinance that prohibited the ritual sacrifice of animals was unconstitutional because it violated the free exercise of religion.
Employment Division v. Smith (1990)	The Supreme Court ruled that the government could not deny unemployment benefits to a Native American who was fired from his job because he used peyote in a religious ceremony.
Gregory v. Ashcroft (2004)	The Supreme Court ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was a valid exercise of Congress's power under the Fourteenth Amendment to protect the free exercise of religion.

Success Stories

A group of Native American inmates were able to win the right to wear their hair long in accordance with their religious beliefs.
A woman was able to win the right to wear a headscarf at work, even though her employer had a policy against wearing religious clothing.
A man was able to win the right to not be fired from his job because he refused to work on Sundays, which was his Sabbath.

FAQs

What is Gregory v. Ashcroft?

Gregory v. Ashcroft was a landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was a valid exercise of Congress's power under the Fourteenth Amendment to protect the free exercise of religion.

What was the impact of the decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft?

What are some of the criticisms of the decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft?

Some critics argue that the decision in Gregory v. Ashcroft is too broad, and that it gives religious exemptions too much weight. Some critics also argue that the decision could lead to discrimination against people who do not share the same religious beliefs.