June 19

Legal History

By Karen Conti

Karen Conti is a litigation attorney and owner of ContiLaw LLC. She is a regular legal commentator on CNN and the local Fox affiliate. She hosts a radio show every Sunday on WGN AM 720 from 7 to 9 p.m. to discuss current legal events and to answer listeners’ questions.

Posted June 19, 2019 11:35 AM

1961The U.S. Supreme Court in Torcaso v. Watkins struck down a provision in Maryland's constitution which required state officeholders to profess a belief in God. Religious qualifications for public office were prohibited federally under the U.S. Constitution, but that prohibition was not applied to the states. Many state laws prevented Jews, Catholics and atheists from holding state office. Eight states still have language in their constitutions that require a belief in God to hold state office.1964The Civil Rights …

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