United States Fifth Circuit

In an action under the Texas Religious Freedom and Restoration Act challenging an ordinance preventing the keeping and slaughter of four-legged animals within defendant-city's borders on the ground that it burdened the Santeria religion, judgment for defendant is reversed where the city had no evidence that plaintiff's animal sacrifices undermined any of its interests.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/31/2009
• Published 07/31/2009

Judges

• JENNIFER W. ELROD, Circuit Judge:, Before BARKSDALE, DENNIS and ELROD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Eric Rassbach (argued), Luke W. Goodrich, Hannah C. Smith, Lori Halstead Windham, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Washington, DC, for Merced.


• For Appellees:
  
• William Michael McKamie, Bradford Eugene Bullock (argued), Law Offices of William M. McKamie, P.C., San Antonio, TX, for Defendants-Appellees.