Religious belief or duty cannot be used as a defense against a criminal indictment. Decided January 6, 1879 (argued 1878). Opinion of the Court: Morrison Waite → go there Topic: Freedom of religion. Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878), was a Supreme Court of the United States case which held that religious duty was not a defense to a criminal indictment. Reynolds was the first Supreme Court opinion to address the First Amendment's protection of religious liberties, impartial juries and the Confrontation Clauses of the Sixth Amendment. Wiki link