Friday, July 11, 2008

Court Rejects Amish Free Exercise Challenge to Buggy Emblem Requirement

A story from the Paducah Sun reports today that in Mayfield, Kentucky, a state circuit court judge upheld the conviction of three Amish men for refusing to display slow-moving vehicle emblems on their horse-drawn buggies. The court, in its decision on Thursday, held that the requirement is a neutral law of general application, not specifically directed at the Amish, so it does not violate the defendants' free exercise rights. [Revised]

UPDATE: AP reports on July 12 that the ACLU will defend another group of similar charges against Amish men in Mayfield.