REYNOLDS V. UNITED STATES
98 U.S. 145 (1878)
NATURE OF THE CASE: This was a case about bigamy
FACTS: Reynolds (D) was found guilty of bigamy in that he had married Mary and then
Amelia. D was sentenced to jail for two years and fined $500. The Supreme Court of the
territory affirmed and then D sued out a writ of error. D claimed that his status as a
Morman permitted him to practice bigamy and that his marriage had the sanction of the
church. D asked the trial court to instruct the jury that if he was married in conformance
with an honest belief of religious duty, he should be found not guilty. The trial court
refused and instead issued an instruction that if D had in fact married for the second time,
his want of evil intent would not absolve him of the implied criminal intent to violate the
law. On appeal D raised a number of issues about the grand jury, the process to empanel
petit jurors, his religious beliefs as an excuse for violation of the law and the admission
of testimony by Amelia given at a former trial for the same offense.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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