Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Court Upholds New Mexico's COVID-19 Limits On Church Services In Lengthy Opinion
In a 268-page opinion in Legacy Church, Inc. v. Kunkel, (D NM, July 13, 2020), Legacy Church lost its challenges under the Free Exercise Clause and the Freedom of Assembly Clause to New Mexico Department of Health Kathyleen Kunkel’s Public Health Emergency Orders imposing various restrictions on gatherings for religious services. Summarizing its holdings, the court concluded that the Public Health Orders "are neutral with respect to religion and generally applicable;" and they "are unrelated to the suppression of speech or religion, serve a compelling state, interest, and less restrictive alternatives are not available."
Labels:
COVID-19,
Free exercise,
Freedom of Assembly,
New Mexico