Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19a1070_08l1.pdf
Page Number: 1

Cite as:  591 U. S. ____ (2020) 

1 

ALITO, J., dissenting 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 19A1070 
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CALVARY CHAPEL DAYTON VALLEY v. STEVE 
SISOLAK, GOVERNOR OF NEVADA, ET AL. 

ON APPLICATION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 

[July 24, 2020] 

  The application for injunctive relief presented to JUSTICE 
KAGAN and by her referred to the Court is denied. 
  JUSTICE  ALITO,  with  whom  JUSTICE  THOMAS  and 
JUSTICE KAVANAUGH join, dissenting from denial of appli-
cation for injunctive relief. 
  The Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion.  
It  says  nothing  about  the  freedom  to  play  craps  or  black-
jack, to feed tokens into a slot machine, or to engage in any 
other game of chance.  But the Governor of Nevada appar-
ently  has  different  priorities.    Claiming  virtually  un-
bounded power to restrict constitutional rights during the 
COVID–19  pandemic,  he  has  issued  a  directive  that  se-
verely  limits  attendance  at  religious  services.    A  church, 
synagogue, or mosque, regardless of its size, may not admit 
more than 50 persons, but casinos and certain other favored 
facilities  may  admit  50%  of  their  maximum  occupancy—
and in the case of gigantic Las Vegas casinos, this means 
that thousands of patrons are allowed. 
  That Nevada would discriminate in favor of the powerful 
gaming industry and its employees may not come as a sur-
prise, but this Court’s willingness to allow such discrimina-
tion is disappointing.  We have a duty to defend the Consti-
tution, and even a public health emergency does not absolve 
us of that responsibility.