Governor Andrew M. Cuomo provides a coronavirus update from the Red Room at the State Capitol on January 29, 2021. | Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)
A federal judge permanently blocked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s controversial restrictions on indoor worship gatherings that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against last November.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, a George W. Bush appointee, granted a permanent injunction to block Cuomo s COVID-19 guidelines as applied to all houses of worship listed in red and orange zones throughout the state.
In red zones, houses of worship were subject to a limit of 25% maximum occupancy or 10 people, whichever is fewer. Meanwhile, places of worship in orange zones were subject to a limit of 33% maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer.
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Last Friday the Supreme Court issued another so-called shadow docket ruling in
South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom. In a split decision, the Supreme Court enjoined enforcement of California’s total ban on indoor worship services in areas of the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 infection (Tier I). Yet, the court left in place California’s 25% capacity limits, as well as the ban on singing and chanting in indoor church services in Tier I designated areas. Although striking down the ban on churches was not surprising for anyone who has been paying attention, given the recent decision in