Court Rules in Favor of Nevada Church, Stops State From Imposing Stricter COVID-19 Restrictions

A federal court ruled Tuesday in favor of a Nevada church over a longtime argument over COVID-19 restrictions with Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak.

Sisolak had a clampdown on worship houses while preventing the spread of COVID-19, said a report from Daily Wire. But the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided that the Nevada church, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley in Lyon County, Nevada would be allowed to hold in-person services at 25 percent capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It reversed a lower court ruling that maintained the Nevada church and other worship places should abide by state mandates that only allowed a maximum of people during church gatherings.

The vote was unanimous among the three-person panel, arguing that the restrictions on places of worship violated the First Amendment, reported The Nevada Independent.

It said the Calvary Chapel had the rights to its Free Exercise claim and proved that the directive could cause "irreparable harm."

Senior pastor Garry Leist said in a Facebook video: "The court has finally made it clear that the government has a duty to respect the First Amendment, and it can't treat churches like second-class citizens."

According to American Action News, the church considered the hard-fought court decision a "victory."

President Trump Believes Houses of Worship 'Essential' in COVID-19

The lawsuit against the governor's restrictions was filed on the same day that President Donald Trump said that houses of worship were considered "essential services" amid the pandemic.

He told governors to open them and challenged the section of Sisolak's directive in late May that put the 50-person attendance cap for indoor church services. Sisolak has since dropped this restriction, but the court decision also mentioned it.

The judges noted that even though the directive is no longer present, it could still be restored by Sisolak "as easily as he replaced them, or impose even more severe restrictions."

The governor's current directive allowed houses of worship to hold services at only 25 percent of the fire capacity or 50 people, whichever is less.

Other establishments like casinos were allowed to open at 25 percent without a headcount cap.

Nevada Church to Abide by Safety Measures

Pastor Leist assured viewers of the Facebook video that their church will still abide by standard safety measures.

"We're going to be able to take and come back into fellowship without fear, and that's amazing," he said. He also expressed appreciation for the court that "recognized that going to church, well, it's essential."

Leist recognized that some people need challenging times and encouraged people by saying, "know that God is absolutely moving forward.

"The pastor said the court would then issue an injunction, which will cause the case to back down to trial courts, where action can be taken on their church's behalf.

In July, the Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley was also subject to a Supreme Court decision that ruled against them.

The case went through the court before Amy Coney Barrett, a known "faithful Catholic," had been added among the panel of justices.

In May, they sued Nevada for being "unfair" for allowing only 50 people during their services while gyms and casinos were allowed 50 percent capacity.