The Supreme Court ruled late Friday that California cannot enforce some of its restrictions on church services, partially lifting the limits set during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a 6-3 verdict, the judges ruled that the state cannot prohibit inner worship, but it can limit indoor services to 25 percent capacity. The court also didn’t stop the state from enforcing a ban on singing and chanting indoors.
The court ruled in two cases brought against the state by churches – one by South Bay United Pentecostal Church and another by Harvest Rock Church – because of restrictions in the state.
California had moved to block indoor worship and other indoor activities such as dining and movie screenings in areas designated “Tier 1” – covering most of the state – due to high coronavirus rates.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that federal courts “owe significant respect to politically responsible officials with regard to public health restrictions,” but added that respect “has its limitations.”
Roberts also explained that the way the state decided that “the maximum number of adherents who can worship safely in the most cavernous cathedral is zero – does not seem to reflect expertise or discretion, but instead insufficient appreciation or balancing of the interests at stake. are at stake. ”
Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Amy Coney Barrett DOJ drops discrimination case against Yale University Graham drops request for Merrick Garland confirmation hearing Feb. 8 Durbin to Graham: ‘Sorry’ no hearing for Garland so far MORE, the court’s newest conservative justice, wrote for himself and Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Brett Michael Kavanaugh Trump Will Take More Than Executive Orders LIVE INAUGURATION COVER: Biden Signs Executive Orders; press secretary to hold Harris first briefing Monday to resign from Senate seat, that she was not clear whether the ban applied to everyone or ‘favors certain sectors’.
“Of course, if a chorister can sing in a Hollywood studio but not her church, California’s regulations cannot be considered neutral,” Barrett wrote. “But the record is uncertain, and the decisions below unfortunately shed little light on the issue.”
Judges Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan Democrats Weigh Growing Lower Courts After Trump Blitz Ex-Christie Assistant Approved by Supreme Court in ‘Bridgegate’ Scandal Pending Local Office LIVE INAUGURATION COVER: Biden Signs Executive Orders; press secretary to hold MORE first briefing, Stephen BreyerStephen Breyer Democrats weigh growing lower courts after Trump blitz LIVE INAUGURATION COVERAGE: Biden signs executive orders; Press Secretary Holds First Briefing Sotomayor Dissenting on Latest Federal Execution, Calls It ‘Justice On The Fly’ MORE and Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor Impeach Threats To Government Officials Democrats Road Growing Lower Courts After Trump Blitz Night Defense: Army Sets New Standards For Hair And Grooming DC National Guard chief says Pentagon limited his authority before the insurgency Colorado is calling on Biden to stop moving Space Command they all differed. Kagan wrote that the court ruling “defies our jurisprudence, goes beyond our judicial role and risks exacerbating the pandemic” by making a “special exception” for worship services.
“I fervently hope that the intervention of the Court will not aggravate the COVID crisis in the country,” Kagan wrote. “But if this decision causes harm, we will not pay.”
The ruling comes a few months after the Supreme Court reigned 5-4 to prevent New York from imposing limits on the number of people who can attend services because of the coronavirus pandemic.