A case filed by the Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, but was denied by the country’s highest court, which declined to hear the case.
The case, known as Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, raises an issue of complaint against Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, alleging that he favored secular gatherings over religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case stated that “under Directive 021, casinos, restaurants, indoor amusement parks, bowling alleys, water parks, pools, arcades and more are subject to a 50-percent fire-code-capacity limit, but places of worship are limited to no more than 50 people, whatever their facilities’ size” which “violates the free exercise clause.”
They further allege that the governor’s favoring over religious gatherings violates the free speech and assembly clause.
A petition for write of certiorari before judgement filed was submitted on Nov. 5, according to the online SCOTUS file.
On Jan. 19, a brief was filed by Sisolak and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford which can be viewed here, and Calvary responded in kind on Jan. 21.
Nineteen other Attorneys General from across the U.S. joined the conversation by offering support of Calvary, and urged the Supreme Court to bring uniformity to the standards imposed on states to set a precedence on freedom of religion during times of public health crises.
On Monday, the Supreme Court denied Calvary’s petition asking the highest court to review the case on its merits.
Ford argued that the federal court in Reno should continue looking into the case first before it be elevated to the Supreme Court.
