Supreme Court blocks New York coronavirus restrictions on places of worship

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court sided with religious opponents of the latest restrictions linked to the New York state coronavirus pandemic.

In a 5-4 decision, the court banned New York authorities from applying certain limits to the number of people attending services in churches and synagogues in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The ruling highlighted the court’s recent right-wing turn as a newly confirmed judge Amy Coney BarrettAmy Coney Barrett Governors blame violating their own coronavirus restrictions Feinstein’s departure from first post sets the stage for court fight McConnell prompted Trump to appoint Barrett on the night of Ginsburg’s death: MORE report sided with four other Tory judges in the decision. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three Liberal justices in dissenting.

The ruling marked a change for the court as it did earlier this year, before the death of liberal justice Ruth bader ginsburgRuth Bader Ginsburg McConnell Pushed Trump to Appoint Barrett on Night of Ginsburg’s Death: COVID-19 Report: Judge Alito Crossed Judicial Boundaries Defuse Judicial Confirmation Process MORE, he ruled 5-4 on similar cases in Nevada and California.

Barrett was quickly confirmed on the bench after Ginsburg’s death in September.

In the unsigned majority opinion, the majority ruled for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel of America who argued that New York’s caps on the number of people who can attend services at hot spots designated for coronaviruses violated the free exercise clause of the first amendment due to the orders being more restrictive than at other installations.

In court documents, New York Gov. Andrew CuomoAndrew Cuomo, Mayor of Denver, apologizes for vacation trips after advising residents to stay put Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams among Time magazine’s nominees for 2020 Person of the Year Denver Mayor Takes Flight to Mississippi for Thanksgiving after advising against traveling MORE (D) had argued that restrictions on places of worship were needed to stem the surge in coronavirus cases in the state.

The lower courts sided with New York in the case.

Justice Neil gorsuchNeil Gorsuch COVID-19: Judge Alito has crossed judicial borders Defuse the judicial confirmation process Reinvest in American leadership READ MORE wrote about his decision that it seemed contradictory to say it was not safe to go to church but not buy a new bike.

“So at least according to the governor, it can be dangerous to go to church, but it’s always good to take another bottle of wine, to buy a new bike,” Gorsuch wrote.