SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
(See also Courts)
Altay Republic
Witnesses deemed extremist (2010): w11 5/1 18-19; yb11 27
Argentina
upholds right of Witness children to school (1979): kr 154-155; yb01 184
upholds right of Witnesses to refuse blood (2012): kr 161-162; yb14 33-34
Armenia
elder exonerated (2002): w03 4/1 11-14; yb03 16-17
Australia
ban on Witnesses lifted (1943): re 92
Canada
literature distribution:
Laurier Saumur v. The City of Quebec (1953): kr 146-147; w00 2/1 27; g00 4/22 22; jv 690
parents’ rights (1995): g95 11/8 13-14
pornography ruled protected by Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1992): g96 7/22 8
Witnesses not seditious:
Aimé Boucher v. His Majesty The King (1950): kr 138-139; w00 2/1 27; g00 4/22 21-22; jv 689-690
Costa Rica
obligatory flag salute for students upheld: yb88 234
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)
ban on Witnesses illegal (1993): kr 143-145; yb04 236-237; yb94 61
Denmark
literature distribution by Witnesses (1933): kr 140; yb93 94-95, 121-122
Ecuador
hears case on religious freedom in Indigenous communities: hdu article 12
El Salvador
overturns requirement to donate blood (1998): g99 5/22 29
Georgia
legal registration of Witnesses annulled (2001): yb02 14-15; g02 1/22 21-23
Germany, Federal Republic of
Federal Constitutional Court upholds public law status for Witnesses (2015): yb17 32-33
Greece
Council of State upholds conscientious objection of Witnesses (2008, 2010): yb11 24-25; yb09 22-23
Jehovah’s Witnesses a known religion (1959, 2012): kr 159-160; yb94 107
India
children not obligated to sing national anthem (1986): re 43; w88 2/1 19-20; w87 11/1 21-23; yb87 20-21; g86 12/8 29
Israel
Witness student wrongly expelled for neutrality (1993): g94 11/8 12-15
Japan
forced blood transfusions violate patients’ rights (2000): kr 161-162; g00 9/22 28
Witness student exemption from kendo drills upheld (1996): g00 4/22 24; w98 12/1 22; yb98 137-138; yb97 14; w96 11/1 19-21; g96 9/8 28
Kyrgyzstan
upholds right to conscientious objection: yb15 33-34
upholds right to hold religious meetings (2015-2016): yb17 34
Macedonia
Witnesses may import literature without restriction: yb09 220
Mexico
upholds religious freedom in Indigenous communities: hdu article 12
Namibia
upholds Witness mother in blood case (2015): yb16 36-37
Netherlands
overturns ordinances severely limiting literature distribution (1953): kr 146
Nicaragua
freedom of worship and speech upheld (1953): kr 142-143; yb03 75
Nigeria
Witnesses not obligated to join age grade associations (1991): w92 12/15 19-20
Norway
Witnesses not unfit parents (1994): g95 11/22 27
Witnesses’ rights upheld (1996): yb97 15
Witnesses’ right to do street witnessing upheld (1950): yb12 136-137, 163
Paraguay
schoolchildren obligated to sing national anthem (1987): yb98 240-241
Philippines
flag salute and singing national anthem not compulsory (1993): kr 155-156; yb03 234-235; w98 12/1 22; yb94 58; g94 1/8 22-23
flag salute compulsory (1959): yb03 233-234; jv 671
Poland
individual worship not punishable (1963): yb94 231-232
Puerto Rico
right to refuse blood (2010): yb11 26
Romania
legal recognition of Witnesses upheld (2001): yb02 16
Witness preaching and literature allowed (1935): kr 146
Russia
reverses liquidation of Tyumen congregation (2015-2016): yb17 36
Witnesses deemed extremist (2009): w12 10/15 32; yb12 41; w11 5/1 18-19; yb11 26-27
Witness website jw.org declared “extremist” (2014): yb16 38
Serbia
upholds Witness distribution of literature (1983): kr 147
Switzerland
confiscating Witness tracts violates freedom of belief (1927): kr 146
Tanzania
Witness children not required to sing national anthem (2013): yb14 31-32
Türkiye
appeal on sealed Kingdom Hall rejected (2009): yb11 31
Witnesses exonerated (1985/1986): kr 147; yb87 21; g86 11/8 29
Ukraine
Witness literature exonerated (1965): yb02 219
United States
company-owned towns:
Marsh v. Alabama (1946): g98 4/22 23-24
flag salute: jv 684-688; g88 6/8 23-24; g87 10/22 26-27
Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940): kr 154; jv 670, 684-685, 687; g93 7/22 15; g91 12/8 22-24; g88 6/8 23
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943): kr 154; re 92; jv 197, 686-688; g93 7/22 16; g91 12/8 23-24; g88 6/8 23-24
house-to-house preaching:
Watchtower v. Village of Stratton (2002): lff lesson 21; kr 147; yb05 16; yb04 17; yb03 13, 19-20; g03 1/8 3-11; g03 9/8 30
Knorr’s comment (1943): w17.06 12
literature distribution: g87 10/22 26
Jones v. City of Opelika (1942): jv 685-687
Lovell v. City of Griffin (1938): bt 200; jv 684
Martin v. City of Struthers (1943): re 92
Murdock v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1943): kr 140-142; re 92; w04 3/15 12-13; g03 1/8 9-10; w98 12/1 20; jv 349, 687-688
local laws subject to First Amendment:
Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940): kr 136-138; g03 1/8 5; jv 684
military service:
Sicurella v. United States (1955): kr 151-152
nonreligious burial for aborted fetuses (1985): g86 1/8 29
number of Witness cases: w01 6/1 19; jv 499, 679, 687-688, 699; g87 10/22 27
parental authority limited (1944): km 9/92 4
parents’ rights:
Parham v. J.R. (1979): hb 21
sedition:
Taylor v. Mississippi (1943): re 92; jv 688
U.S. a Christian nation: jv 684