Religious expression not ‘singled out’ in Gov. Beshear’s COVID-19 orders, Ky. judge says
A Kentucky judge has denied a temporary restraining order requested by a Louisville-area church that sued Gov. Andy Beshear Friday, accusing him of violating religious freedoms by prohibiting in-person mass gatherings at church services during the outbreak of COVID-19.
United States District Court Judge David J. Hale filed an order Saturday denying the requested restraining order, in which Maryville Baptist Church and its pastor, Jack Roberts, asked for a halt to enforcement of Beshear’s orders against in-person services.
Maryville Baptist Church held an in-person service on Easter despite Beshear’s orders. Those who attended the service left to find notices placed on their cars by Kentucky State Police informing them they’d be receiving 14-day quarantine agreements that would have to be followed, or other enforcement actions would be taken, according to the lawsuit.
In the requested restraining order the church sought to stop Beshear “from unconstitutionally enforcing and applying the various COVID-19 orders issued by Governor Beshear and other Commonwealth officials,” according to court records.
Hale denied the restraining order, writing that religious gatherings were not “singled out” by Beshear’s orders against in-person mass gatherings and that a restraining order allowing mass gatherings to continue would “substantially harm third parties by facilitating the spread of COVID-19,” according to court records.
A status conference by phone will be held in the case, at which point further hearings on other matters in the lawsuit will be scheduled, according to court records.
Roberts and the church are being represented by Liberty Counsel, a religious advocacy group that also represented former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis.
This story was originally published April 19, 2020 at 1:42 PM.
