Home > Great American Court Cases > Reynolds v. United States

Legal Citation: 98 U.S. 145 (1879)

Petitioner
George Reynolds

Respondent
United States

Petitioner's Claim
The Morrill Act, which made practice of polygamy a crime, violated his First Amendment right to freedom of religion.

Chief Lawyers for Petitioner
George W. Biddle and Ben Sheeks

Chief Lawyers for Respondent
Charles Devens, U.S. Attorney General, and Samuel F. Phillips, U.S. Solicitor General

Justices for the Court
Joseph P. Bradley, Nathan Clifford, Stephen Johnson Field, John Marshall Harlan I, Ward Hunt, Samuel Freeman Miller, William Strong, Noah Haynes Swayne, Morrison Remick Waite (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting
None

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
5 May 1879

Decision
Polygamy was not protected by freedom of religion.