Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19a1044_pok0.pdf
Page Number: 6.0

Cite as:  590 U. S. ____ (2020) 

3 

KAVANAUGH, J., dissenting 

  The  Church  and  its  congregants  simply  want  to  be 
treated equally to comparable secular businesses.  Califor-
nia  already  trusts  its  residents  and  any  number  of  busi-
nesses  to  adhere  to  proper  social  distancing  and  hygiene 
practices.  The State cannot “assume the worst when people 
go to worship but assume the best when people go to work 
or go about the rest of their daily lives in permitted social 
settings.”  Ibid. 
  California has ample options that would allow it to com-
bat  the  spread  of  COVID–19  without  discriminating 
against  religion.    The  State  could  “insist  that  the  congre-
gants adhere to social-distancing and other health require-
ments and leave it at that—just as the Governor has done 
for comparable secular activities.”  Id., at 415.  Or alterna-
tively,  the  State  could  impose  reasonable  occupancy  caps 
across  the  board.    But  absent  a  compelling  justification 
(which the State has not offered), the State may not take a 
looser approach with, say, supermarkets, restaurants, fac-
tories, and offices while imposing stricter requirements on 
places of worship. 
  The State also has substantial room to draw lines, espe-
cially in an emergency.  But as relevant here, the Constitu-
tion imposes one key restriction on that line-drawing: The 
State may not discriminate against religion. 
  In sum, California’s 25% occupancy cap on religious wor-
ship  services  indisputably  discriminates  against  religion, 
and such discrimination violates the First Amendment.  See 
Ohio Citizens for Responsible Energy, Inc. v. NRC, 479 U. S. 
1312  (1986)  (Scalia,  J.,  in  chambers).    The  Church  would 
suffer irreparable harm from not being able to hold services 
on Pentecost Sunday in a way that comparable secular busi-
nesses  and  persons  can  conduct  their  activities.    I  would 
therefore  grant  the  Church’s  request  for  a  temporary  in-
junction.  I respectfully dissent.