Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/20a96_e29g.pdf
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DANVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INC. v. BESHEAR 

ALITO, J., dissenting 

tral,  generally  applicable  law  to  religiously  motivated  ac-
tion” also implicates “the right of parents” “to direct the ed-
ucation of their children.”  Id., at 881 (citing Pierce v. Soci-
ety of Sisters, 268 U. S. 510 (1925); Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 
U. S.  205  (1972)).    The  applicants  did  not  squarely  raise 
that alternative Smith argument in the District Court, the 
Sixth Circuit, or this Court. 
  Under all of the circumstances, especially the timing and 
the impending expiration of the Order, we deny the appli-
cation without prejudice to the applicants or other parties 
seeking a new preliminary injunction if the Governor issues 
a school-closing order that applies in the new year. 
  JUSTICE ALITO, with whom JUSTICE GORSUCH joins, dis-
senting from the denial of application to vacate stay. 
  For the reasons explained in JUSTICE GORSUCH’s dissent, 
post, at ___, I would vacate the Sixth Circuit’s stay of the 
preliminary injunction issued by the District Court and re-
mand for further consideration in light of the proper legal 
standards.  While I do not agree with the Court’s denial of 
the applicants’ request for emergency relief, no one should 
misinterpret that denial as signifying approval of the Sixth 
Circuit’s decision.  As I understand this Court’s order, it is 
based primarily on timing.  At this point, just a few school 
days remain before the beginning of many schools’ holiday 
break, and the executive order in question will expire before 
classes would normally begin next year.  The Court is there-
fore reluctant to grant relief that, at this point, would have 
little practical effect.  
  I  understand  that reluctance,  but  in  my  judgment,  it  is 
unfair to deny relief on this ground since this timing is in 
no way the applicants’ fault.  They filed this action on No-
vember  20,  2020,  just  two  days  after  the  issuance  of  the 
Governor’s  executive  order.    And  when,  on  November  29, 
the  Sixth  Circuit  granted  a  stay  of  the  order  that  would 
have allowed classes to resume, the applicants sought relief