Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) Latest Version Graded A+

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) Latest Version Graded A+ Facts The state of Wisconsin convicted three members of Old Order Amish and Mennonite communities for violating the state's compulsory education law, which requires attendance at school until the age of 16. Mr. Yoder and the other parents appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on the grounds that their families' First Amendment free exercise rights were violated. Constitutional Question Under what conditions does the state's interest in promoting compulsory education override parents' First Amendment right to free exercise of religion? Holding The Court decided the case unanimously, 7-0, in favor of Yoder. The Supreme Court held that the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, as incorporated by the 14th Amendment, prevented the state of Wisconsin from compelling the respondents to send their children to formal secondary school beyond the age of 14. The Court ruled that the families' religious beliefs and practices outweighed the state's interests in making the children attend school beyond the eighth grade. Dissent, in part Because the majority opinion focused only on the free exercise claims of the parents (the ones who were charged with a crime) and not the children, Justice Douglas would have sent the cases of the other children back to lower courts to learn whether or not the children wanted to attend school past eighth grade. Significance Broadened the interpretation of