United States v. Lewis

OPINION AND VERDICT

HILLMAN, Chief Judge.

An initial comment or two might be appropriate. First of all, this unusual case involves, to some extent at least, the religious béliefs and practices of a small, black religious sect whose beliefs are highly unorthodox and far from the mainstream of traditional, religious concepts in this country. It should be obvious to all that those facts alone have no bearing on the guilt or innocence of the accused. This country thrives on diversity. First Amendment rights are sacred. The fact that middle class American public opinion, white and black, may hate…