Carmichael fails to allege a substantial burden on his religion from the SSN requirement. Indeed, Carmichael seems to allege only burdens on his secular life, such as his ability to drive his car....The court also rejected Carmichael's 10th Amendment attack on the social security number requirement, and dismissed claims against state officials on the basis of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine and the doctrine of res judicata.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Court Rejects Minister's Challenge To Social Security Number On Driver's License Application
In Carmichael v. Sebelius, (ED VA, Oct. 23, 2013), a Virginia federal district court dismissed a suit by a Christian minister challenging the federal requirement that states record an individual's social security number on his or her driver's license application as a condition of the state receiving federal funds for child support enforcement efforts. Plaintiff David Carmichael believes that the social security number is the number of the Beast referred to in the Book of Revelation. Therefore he has been attempting in lawsuits, first at the state level and then in federal court, to disassociate his identity from his social security number. Among other things, the court held that there had not been a violation of Carmichael's religious liberty protected by the 1st Amendment and RFRA, saying in part:
