Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah

The Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye (plaintiff) practiced Santeria, a religion whose ceremonies require ritual animal sacrifice. After the church announced plans to open in Hialeah, Florida (defendant), the city passed several ordinances specifically banning ritualistic animal sacrifices while continuing to permit most secular forms of animal slaughter. The church challenged the ordinances as violating the Free Exercise Clause; the district court and court of appeals upheld them, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.