McGowan v. Maryland
Supreme Court of the United States
366 U.S. 420 (1961)
Relevant factsFree
McGowan (defendant) and six coworkers at a discount retail store were indicted under a Maryland law (plaintiff) banning the sale of all merchandise on Sunday except a limited list of permitted items. The employees challenged the law as violating the separation of church and state and the Establishment Clause, but the state supreme court upheld the indictments, and the employees sought U.S. Supreme Court review.
IssueFree
Whether a state law that criminalizes engaging in certain employment and commercial activities on Sunday violates the First Amendment when its purpose is not to aid religion.
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