Wednesday, December 16, 2020

9th Circuit Orders Injunction Against Nevada's COVID Limits On Churches

In Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, (9th Cir., Dec. 15, 2020), the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that Nevada's COVID-19 restrictions on worship services violate the Free Exercise clause. The court said in part:

The Supreme Court’s decision in Roman Catholic Diocese compels us to reverse the district court. Just like the New York restrictions, the Directive treats numerous secular activities and entities significantly better than religious worship services. Casinos, bowling alleys, retail businesses, restaurants, arcades, and other similar secular entities are limited to 50% of fire-code capacity, yet houses of worship are limited to fifty people regardless of their fire-code capacities.

Nevada Independent reports on the decision.