Court Extends Rights on Confessions
A Tacoma, Wash., pastor cannot be forced to testify about a murder confession because doing so would violate the sanctity of the confessional, the Washington state Supreme Court has ruled.
At issue in the case was whether a state law that guarantees the confidentiality of religious confessions covers only confessions between a penitent and clergy in a religion with a recognized confession rite, or whether it extends to other religions as well.
Pierce County prosecutors have charged Scott Anthony Martin in the shaking death of his 3-month-old son, Devyn, two years ago. They believe Martin confessed to his pastor, the Rev. Rich Hamlin, minister of the Evangelical Reformed Church in South Tacoma, and have sought to question Hamlin.
A lower court held Hamlin in contempt for refusing to testify. The high court unanimously dismissed the contempt ruling. Prosecutors believe the ruling will significantly broaden legal protections for clergy members.
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