Legal Opinion
Torcaso v. Watkins
Supreme Court of the United States
Decided June 19, 1961No. 373PublishedCited by 543 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtJustice Black
Article 37 of the Declaration of Rights of the Maryland Constitution provides:
“[N]o religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for any office of profit or trust in this State, other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God . . .
The appellant Torcaso was appointed to the office of Notary Public by the Governor of Maryland but was refused a commission to serve because he would not declare his belief in God. He then brought this action in a Maryland Circuit Court to compel issuance of his commission, charging that the State’s requirement that he declare this belief…
2Cases cited14 opinions
- Cantwell v. ConnecticutSupreme Court of the United States · 1940
- McGowan v. MarylandSupreme Court of the United States · 1961
- West Virginia State Board of Education v. BarnetteSupreme Court of the United States · 1943
- Everson v. Board of Ed. of EwingSupreme Court of the United States · 1947
- Reynolds v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1879
9 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by543 opinions
- Connick Ex Rel. Parish of Orleans v. MyersSupreme Court of the United States · 1983
- Perry v. SindermannSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Elrod v. BurnsSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- Cruz v. BetoSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Sherbert v. VernerSupreme Court of the United States · 1963
538 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.