Case Brief Endres V. Indiana State Police

Endres v. Indiana State Police

334 F.3d 618

C.A.7 (Ind.),2003.

June 27, 2003

Facts: Endres (plaintiff) was asked to work as an officer at a casino, which violated his religious beliefs. As a Baptist, he felt that working in a casino would violate his religious beliefs against gambling. He felt that working in a casino would facilitate gambling, so it was also not acceptable. He was, therefore, fired for insubordination when her refused ot report to his assigned post. Because of these issues regarding religion and the workplace, Endres sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 alleging that his religious freedom had been violated by the restrictions placed by his jobs. Holmes (plaintiff) was asked to remove a religious head wrap, and rather than comply, took vacation days. She sued based on a violation under the same act.

Procedural History: Plaintiff argued that employer terminated him based on his religious beliefs. The court ruled against him finding that he was not terminated because of his religious beliefs, but because of his failure to report for duty as instructed.

Issues: Does an employer have a right to terminate an employee who refuses certain duties that he or she believes do not align with his or her religious beliefs while aligning with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? In The Supreme Court held in Trans World Airlines, Inc. v. Hardison, 432 U.S. 63, 84, 97 S.Ct. 2264, 53 L.Ed.2d 113 (1977), an employer has a duty to reasonably accommodate religious situations for employees, but employee subordination that occurs because an employee feels an order does not align with his or her religion after the employer has made good faith efforts to accommodate an employee can result in termination.

Holdings: Decision of the district court reversed. The state police are not required to accommodate Endres and his request to abstain from duty in a casino based on religious beliefs. Holmes was sent to state court to reevaluate...