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9th Circuit sympathetic to Nevada churches in COVID-19 fight
AP News ^ | Dec 8, 2020 | By SCOTT SONNER

Posted on 12/08/2020 7:07:40 PM PST by 11th_VA

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A three-member U.S. appeals court panel appeared sympathetic Tuesday to arguments by lawyers for two Nevada churches that say state COVID-19 restrictions treating churches differently than casinos and other secular businesses violate their First Amendment rights.

The 9th Circuit panel in San Francisco heard arguments via video from lawyers for Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley east of Reno and Cavalry Chapel Lone Mountain in Las Vegas who want the appellate court to reverse earlier district court rulings upholding hard attendance caps Gov. Steve Sisolak has set on the size of indoor worship services.

They say churches should be held to the same standards that allow casinos, bars, restaurants and others to operate based on a percentage of their capacity — currently 25% — not a hard cap.

“What Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain is seeking is equal footing,” said Sigal Chattah, its lead attorney.

All three justices cited recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that handed victories to churches waging similar battles over religious freedom in New York and California. Each expressed skepticism about various arguments lawyers for Nevada made to justify disparate treatment of churches and secular businesses....

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; firstamendment; freedomofassembly; freedomofreligion
Interesting
1 posted on 12/08/2020 7:07:40 PM PST by 11th_VA
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