SCOTUS Upholds CA Limit On Religious Gatherings

The Sacramento Bee reports:

The Supreme Court late Friday rejected a California church’s challenge of the state’s new pandemic-related rules on worship services, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the court’s liberals in the 5-to-4 vote.

Roberts wrote that state officials such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) had leeway to impose restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and had not singled out places of worship for unfair treatment.

“The notion that it is ‘indisputably clear’ that the government’s limitations are unconstitutional seems quite improbable,” Roberts wrote. He was referring to the standard that challengers must meet to enjoin enforcement of the state order.

The Supreme Court, in a rare late-night ruling, says that California may enforce certain restrictions on religious gatherings.

Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s liberal justices. https://t.co/pkOfDSR0ZB

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 30, 2020

Breaking News: The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, rejected a California church’s challenge to pandemic restrictions on attendance at religious services https://t.co/IoO5avHlgC

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 30, 2020