Petitioner: Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc.

Respondent: City of Hialeah

Petitioner's Claim: That city laws prohibiting animal sacrifices during religious ceremonies violated the First Amendment freedom of religion.

Chief Lawyer for Petitioner: Douglas Laycock

Chief Lawyer for Respondent: Richard G. Garrett

Justices for the Court: Harry A. Blackmun, Anthony M. Kennedy (writing for the Court), Sandra Day O'Connor, William H. Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, David H. Souter, John Paul Stevens, Clarence Thomas, Byron R. White

Justices Dissenting: None

Date of Decision: June 11, 1993

Decision: The laws violated the freedom of religion.

Significance: The decision is a recent reminder that laws may not target religious activity with unfair treatment.

Santería is a religion that developed among African...