Thomas v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division, 450 U.S. 707 (1981), was a case[1] in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that Indiana's denial of unemployment compensation benefits to petitioner violated his First Amendment right to free exercise of religion, under Sherbert v. Verner (1963).

Since all of the employer's remaining departments were engaged directly in the production of weapons, petitioner asked to be laid off.

When that request was denied, he quit, asserting that his religious beliefs prevented him from participating in the production of weapons.

The Indiana Supreme Court vacated on petitioner's free exercise right, the burden justified by legitimate state interests.

The majority held that Indiana's denial of unemployment compensation violated Thomas' right to free exercise of religion.