Free Republic

People cannot not be barred from juries solely because their clothing or occupation suggest they are devoutly religious, the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The court ruled that an assistant Essex County prosecutor abused his discretion during jury selection when he tossed a man whose attire and prayer cap suggested he was Muslim, and another who said he was a missionary. The prosecutor contended that people who are "demonstrative" about their religions "tend to favor defendants." In a 6-0 decision written by Chief Justice Deborah Poritz, the court noted that followers of certain faiths are readily identifiable by their clothing...

The United States is the most religious of the world's wealthy nations, and that inclination for belief makes it more akin to poorer countries than to other industrial societies, according to a poll of 44 nations released yesterday. "Wealthier nations tend to place less importance on religion — with the exception of the United States," said the survey by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. "Americans' views are closer to people in developing nations than to the publics of developed nations." With six in 10 Americans saying religion plays a "very important" role in their lives, the U.S. public is about...