Religion & Law

New Jersey COVID Limits On Indoor Church Services Are Upheld

By Howard M. Friedman

In Robinson v. Murphy, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 185070 ( NJ, Oct. 2, 2020), a New Jersey federal district court refused to issue a preliminary injunction in a suit challenging COVID-19 Orders of the governor of New Jersey. The Orders limit the permitted number of worshipers at indoor religious services and require masks at services. Rejecting free exercise challenges, the court said in part:

[T]he challenged measures are subject to rational basis review because they are generally applicable and neutral laws that burden secular and religious activity alike. The State's policies are designed to combat the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey given the current understanding of the virus which the Court finds is undoubtedly a legitimate governmental interest....

Furthermore, ... the laws are not substantially underinclusive requiring the application of strict scrutiny, as the indoor gatherings restrictions contain similar exceptions for religious purposes and for secular purposes, indoor religious gatherings have higher maximum capacities than secular indoor gatherings, and, as Plaintiffs themselves acknowledge, there are both feasibility and religious purpose exceptions included in the mask requirements.

Plaintiffs, a priest and a rabbi, had also argued that the orders violate the Establishment Clause:

Plaintiffs assert that the orders violate the Establishment Clause because Defendants are attempting to dictate the precise manner in which Plaintiffs and their congregants worship. They further contend that "by mandating crude and medically useless face coverings," Defendants have made it difficult to say mass or teach the Jewish faith.... The Court finds that the indoor gatherings restrictions and mask requirements pass constitutional muster.

The court, in addition, rejected free speech, equal protection and due process challenges.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 07, 2020 (boomark / email).