Thomas v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division
Docket: No. 779S192
Court: Indiana Supreme Court; June 17, 1981; Indiana; State Supreme Court
Certiorari was granted by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Thomas v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division, leading to a remand for further proceedings. The Supreme Court reversed the prior decision of this Court, which had affirmed the Review Board's finding that claimant Eddie C. Thomas voluntarily left his job without good cause, thereby denying him unemployment benefits. The Supreme Court determined that Thomas's termination was due to religious objections arising from changing job conditions, which constituted a violation of his First Amendment rights. The Court found that the state’s interest in preventing widespread unemployment and avoiding inquiries into religious beliefs did not justify the infringement on Thomas's religious liberty. Furthermore, it ruled that awarding benefits to Thomas did not breach the Establishment Clause. Consequently, the Indiana Court was instructed to remand the case, declaring that Indiana Code 22-4-15-1 imposed an impermissible burden on Thomas's free exercise of religion. The Review Board is directed to award Thomas unemployment benefits consistent with the Supreme Court's opinion and to reimburse him $150.00 for incurred costs. Justices Giyan, DeBruler, Hunter, and Prentice concurred with this decision.