The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against a pandemic-related order by California Gov. Gavin Newsom banning some indoor religious services, agreeing with critics that it is unconstitutional.
In a one-page order, the high court granted a petition from lawyers for Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, Calif., seeking to set aside a lower court ruling upholding Newsom’s ban.
The unsigned order instructed members of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reconsider their opinion on the case in light of last week’s Supreme Court ruling in a similar case, when it backed religious groups in challenging the state of New York’s COVID-19 restrictions.
In latest the case, Harvest Rock Church sued the state of California in July after Newsom issued regulations under which churches in areas hit hardest by COVID-19 cannot hold indoor gatherings.
The case was filed by Mat Staver, an Orlando, Fla., attorney who is founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, which litigates religious liberty cases.
It asks for a preliminary injunction barring the enforcement of the restrictions. After a federal judge denied the request, the case went to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which also declined to issue an injunction.
In a 2-1 ruling on Oct. 1, the appellate court said the evidence does not support the argument that the orders give comparable secular activity more favorable treatment than religious activity, as alleged by the church.
While the churches contend they are being unfairly singled out while retail businesses are allowed to remain open under capacity restrictions, health experts say crowded, indoor church services provide an especially potent avenue for transmission of the disease, which is spread through the emission of infected droplets.
The Supreme Court, however, agreed with religious groups in New York in last week’s case, finding that orders restricting their capacity violated worshippers’ First Amendment rights because they were harsher than for secular facilities.
In the 5-4 decision, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who joined the court last month, was the decisive vote siding with the conservative judges on the bench.
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It’s a sad day when 4 of the 9 justices rule AGAINST the clear intent of the first amendment. If that is not cause for their impeachment, then NOTHING is.
“provides an especially potent avenue for transmission of the disease, which is spread through the emission of infected droplets.”…….like the Pandemic “never let a crisis go to waste “election disease that is spread through the emission of infected mail-in voter drop boxes.
“Justice Neil Gorsuch penned his own concurrence to the per curium order, saying, “Government is not free to disregard the First Amendment in times of crisis,,,, “But even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten.””,,,,nor can it be put away by Governors or people like Stacy Abrahams to change the power to design how State electors are chosen and votes are tabulated, and voters are qualified, from the Constitutionally designed legislatures to third parties with vested interests.
AND what’s the point, in telling the governors and mayours “You screwed up here”< WHEN NOTHING EVER GETS DONE TO them for violating their oaths and the constitution?!
IMO EVERY DAMNABLE ONE of them, should be getting perp walked, right out of their million dollar mansions, RIGHT INTO THE NEAREST JAIL!
It is encouraging to see the Supreme Court taking the written words of The Constitution seriously. This is a far cry from the situation ethics standard which has been applied too often and for too long. Words have meaning and the practice of interpreting them to suit the fashion or sentiment of the day does injustice to the words and to those who misuse them. If The Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law….”, don’t make a law, or issue an executive order, it’s all very plain and simple.
Sickening though, that FOUR Of these hacks, sided with the bloody mayors and governors, OVER OUR constitution!
Go Amy Coney Barrett! It is good to have a Judge on the court , that believes in our Constitution, unlike Bush RINO Judge Roberts!!!!!!