Conservative lawmakers criticized Supreme Court President John Roberts after he sided with liberal court judges in a 5-4 decision Friday that rejected a request by a Nevada church to prevent the government government imposes a limit on attendance at religious services.
Senator Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward Cruz Trade negotiations must not short-circuit the internal debate Tea Party rises up against McConnell’s trillion relief plans The Republican Party may face tax cut options or stimulus checks MORE (R-Texas) tweeted early Saturday that Roberts had “abandoned his oath.”
John Roberts has abandoned his oath.
But, conversely, perhaps Nevada churches should set up dice tables? Then could they open? https://t.co/6pWoOwg9ts
– Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 25, 2020
“What happened to that judge?” senator tweeted Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant CottonWSJ Editorial Board Calls Employee Concerns Over Opinion Page ‘Cancel Culture’ Director of Conservative Expert Group Says Project Lincoln Members Are Debt To Republican Pro-Business Tom Cotton Criticizes NY Times for an opinion piece by the Chinese scientist criticizing the US coronavirus response MORE (R-Ark.)
“Freedom of religion is our first freedom. However, SCOTUS has ruled that casinos can host hundreds of players, while churches cannot host their congregations. Justice Roberts once again he was wrong, shamefully closing the church doors to his flocks, “Cotton added in a statement.
John Roberts in his audience: “If the Constitution says that the little one must win, the little one will win in court before me.”
What happened to that judge?
He did not mention his belief that casinos have more rights than churches. https://t.co/KjpyLbkIMo
– Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) July 25, 2020
The decision rejects a lawsuit by Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, which argued that it was being treated unfairly compared to other businesses in the state. While places of worship in Nevada have a strict limit of 50 people in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, companies like casinos and restaurants can operate at half their fire code capacity. This discrepancy was a violation of the First Amendment, the church claimed in the lawsuit.
Defending its imposed restrictions, Nevada stated that its regulations did not unfairly target places of worship, and said that other large gatherings, such as concerts and movie theaters, were treated “as or worse than houses of worship.”
The complaint reached the highest court in the country after it was rejected by a district court and a circuit court.
Three of the conservative judges wrote dissenting opinions on the emergency order.
“The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion”, Justice Samuel Alito
The Supreme Court of Samuel Alito again rejects the church’s challenge to virus restriction. Should we judge the judges on whether their decisions appeal to us? The Hill’s Report 12:30 PM – Submitted by Facebook – Supreme Court allows federal executions in 2am decision MORE wrote in dissent. “It says nothing about the freedom to play dice or blackjack, feed chips in a slot machine, or participate in any other game of chance. But the Nevada governor apparently has different priorities. “
He added: “That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful gaming industry and its employees may not come as a surprise, but the will of this Court to allow such discrimination is disappointing. We have a duty to uphold the Constitution, and even an emergency of Public health does not exempt us from that responsibility. ”
This is the second case that Roberts ruled against a church lawsuit challenging a capacity constraint during the pandemic. In May, the court ruled 5-4 in a similar case, rejecting a challenge from a California church.
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