Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/19pdf/19a1044_pok0.pdf
Page Number: 1

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

1 

ROBERTS, C. J., concurring 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

_________________ 

No. 19A1044 
_________________ 
SOUTH BAY UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, ET AL. 
v. GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR OF 
CALIFORNIA, ET AL. 

ON APPLICATION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 

[May 29, 2020]

  The application for injunctive relief presented to JUSTICE 
KAGAN and by her referred to the Court is denied. 
  JUSTICE THOMAS, JUSTICE ALITO, JUSTICE GORSUCH, and 
JUSTICE KAVANAUGH would grant the application. 
  CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS, concurring in denial of applica-
tion for injunctive relief. 
  The  Governor  of  California’s  Executive  Order  aims  to 
limit the spread of COVID–19, a novel severe acute respir-
atory illness that has killed thousands of people in Califor-
nia and more than 100,000 nationwide.  At this time, there 
is  no  known  cure,  no  effective  treatment,  and  no  vaccine.  
Because  people  may  be  infected  but  asymptomatic,  they 
may unwittingly infect others.  The Order places temporary 
numerical restrictions on public gatherings to address this 
extraordinary  health  emergency.    State  guidelines  cur-
rently limit attendance at places of worship to 25% of build-
ing capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees.   
  Applicants  seek  to  enjoin  enforcement  of  the  Order.  
“Such a request demands a significantly higher justification 
than a request for a stay because, unlike a stay, an injunc-
tion does not simply suspend judicial alteration of the sta-
tus quo but grants judicial intervention that has been with-
held  by  lower  courts.”    Respect  Maine  PAC  v.  McKee,  562 
U. S. 996 (2010) (internal quotation marks omitted).  This