Court Opinion

ID: 9399652
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-05 23:01:00.105998+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:37.625971
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION
                                File Name: 23a0255n.06

                                        Case No. 22-5952
                                                                                        FILED
                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                          Jun 05, 2023
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT                          DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk

                                                     )
MARYVILLE    BAPTIST                CHURCH;
                                                     )
DOCTOR JACK ROBERTS,
                                                     )
       Plaintiffs-Appellants,                        )
                                                     )      ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
v.                                                   )      STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
                                                     )      THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF
ANDY BESHEAR, in his official capacity as            )      KENTUCKY
Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,            )
       Defendant-Appellee.                           )                                   OPINION
                                                     )

Before: SUTTON, Chief Judge; McKEAGUE and NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judges.

       PER CURIAM. Maryville Baptist Church received a preliminary injunction against

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings. As time

passed and the pandemic waned, the case became moot. The Church nevertheless claimed the

status of “prevailing party” and sought attorney’s fees. 42 U.S.C. § 1988(b). The district court

denied the motion, and the Church appeals.

       During the pendency of the appeal we decided another prevailing-party case, Roberts

v. Neace, 65 F.4th 280 (6th Cir. 2023). Roberts addressed Beshear’s COVID-19 restrictions,

preliminary injunctions, mootness, and attendance at Maryville Baptist Church—all features of

this case. We vacate and remand for the district court to apply Roberts in the first instance.