Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Agudath Yisrael Against Governor Cuomo’s Synagogue Restrictions

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A woman and man pray outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, the day after the Senate confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to become a Supreme Court Justice. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The US Supreme Court issued a midnight ruling in favor of a suit brought by Agudath Israel and the Diocese against NY Governor Cuomo’s rules regarding synagogues and other houses of worship. The ruling was 5-4. Judge Roberts joined the three liberal judges in dissent.

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These votes mark the first marked impact of Justice Amy Coney Barrett on the Court with the new conservative leaning majority, as opposed to her predecessor Ruth Bader-Ginsburg who helped establish a liberal majority.

“This is an historic victory. This landmark decision will ensure that religious practices and religious institutions will be protected from government edicts that do not treat religion with the respect demanded by the Constitution” said Avi Schick, the attorney for the plaintiffs who challenged Governor Cuomo’s cluster initiative which had caused the restriction of synagogues and mass gatherings in areas deemed red, orange and yellow.

The Agudah lawsuit raised numerous objections to the current executive order, including claiming that the order was intended to “target” the Orthodox Jewish community. The brief notes that the red, orange and yellow zones were first implemented exclusively in Orthodox Jewish areas, and without any metrics or scientific justification.

Moreover, the lawsuit questioned why red zone shuls are limited to 10 per building, while financial services firms, pet shops, liquor shops, and other “essential” stores can operate without any limit on numbers of employees or customers. The suit claimed that arbitrary limits on numbers of people allowed irrespective of the size of the house of worship is both scientifically and legally untenable. Moreover, the suit claimed that New York’s regulations against synagogue worship are far more restrictive than those of any other state.

In his concurring opinion, Justice Gorsuch wrote that “there is no world in which the Constitution tolerates color-coded executive edicts that reopen liquor stores and bike shops but shutter churches, synagogues, and mosques.”

 


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Hameivin yavin
Hameivin yavin
3 years ago

Bh we have some judges who are not liberals who understand the need for places of worship finally some common sense will prevail

Democrats are anti religious freedom.
Democrats are anti religious freedom.
3 years ago

Roberts again sides with the liberals, including the 2 Jews on the court. B”H Trump replaced the liberal RBG with the constitutionalist ACB, otherwise it would have been 5-4 the other way with the 3 Jews siding with the governments restrictions on religion.

חצקל
חצקל
3 years ago

א נקמה אין דעם ספאטשים

ANON21
ANON21
3 years ago

So all you trump haters where are you now?? Or do you agree with caumo??

common-sense
common-sense
3 years ago

W While the Supreme Court was right from the standpoint of constitutional law since Cuomo’s restrictions were arbitrary and treated religious institutions differently than others, this should not be taken as a license to ignore health considerations. The scientific facts still mandate that masks should be worn and social distancing enforced. Keep in mind that “Venishmartem Me’od Al Nafshoseichem” is not part of the Supreme Court agenda.
One other note. The liberals on the court voted to uphold Cuomo’s arbitrary and discriminatory rules. Let’s hope that Biden does not get a Supreme Court appointment. If he does, we will get decisions like Shuls and kosher catering halls have to allow Toeva “weddings” and other decisions which will severely curtail religious freedom

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

Yes and now we can finally tell you naysayers who questioned what makes Coumo’s edict against the constitution and illgeal. Well guess what Phineas. Smart supreme court judges are not dumb. Hint hint! And mr Stan aka phineas breath deep We won. Now all tickets dismissed like I predicted.

Thank you hashem a true day of thanksgiving and hopefully the beginning of evil antichos Coumo’s downfall.

FYI Cuomo is now criticizing the media like Trump. All of a sudden the media has no respect for higher office. And they shouldn’t talk to a president or governor the way they are talking. Its mamesh comic to hear the hypocrite ego maniac! How ironic how it changes when its him and not his brother Chris from fake CNN vs trump!

PaulinSaudi
PaulinSaudi
3 years ago

This will be a very interesting natural experiment. I suppose some smart people will be studying the infection, hospitalization and death rates so that we might learn lessons.

jdrebbe
jdrebbe
3 years ago

I’m sorry that more people will die.