Jimmy Swaggart Ministries v. Board of Equalization of California
493 U.S. 378 · Decided January 17, 1990 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries v. Board of Equalization of California was decided on January 17, 1990 unanimously (9–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Free exercise of religion” in the First Amendment area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 493 U.S. 378 · 110 S. Ct. 688 · 107 L. Ed. 2d 796 · 1990 U.S. LEXIS 485
- Docket number
- 88-1374
- Decided
- January 17, 1990
- Argued
- October 31, 1989
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 9–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- Sandra Day O'Connor
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Appeal
- Issue (SCDB)
- Free exercise of religion
- Issue area
- First Amendment
- Legal provision
- First Amendment (free exercise of religion)
- Type of law
- Constitutional amendment
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Sandra Day O'Connor | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority | |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority |
Full case caption
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries v. Board of Equalization of California
SCDB identifiers: case 1989-022, docket 1989-022-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Free exercise of religion”
- Employment Division v. Smith
- Frazee v. Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Employment Division v. Smith
- Richard E. Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association
- O'Lone v. Estate of Shabazz
- Hobbie v. Unemployment Appeals Commission of Florida
Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (free exercise of religion)
- Gary Locke v. Joshua Davey
- Trinity Lutheran Church v. ComerLaw held unconstitutional
- Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
- Espinoza v. Montana Department of RevenueLaw held unconstitutional
- Carson v. MakinLaw held unconstitutional
- Zorach v. Clauson
Same Term, same area (First Amendment)
- University of Pennsylvania v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Fw/pbs, Inc. v. City of DallasLaw held unconstitutional
- Federal Trade Commission v. Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association
- Butterworth v. SmithLaw held unconstitutional
- Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce
- Employment Division v. Smith
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error