Capitol Hill Baptist Church v. Bowser, No. 20-cv-2710, 496 F. Supp. 3d 284 (ECF No. 43)

The record

Jurisdiction

District of Columbia

Level

Court

Authority

42 U.S.C. 2000bb (RFRA); Fed. R. Civ. P. 65

Issued

2020-10-09 Oct. 9, 2020

Effective

2020-10-09

In force

Oct. 9, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020

Quarters

2020 Q4

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3

Limitation types

Capacity limitGathering cap

Addressees

• Mayor of the District of Columbia

Functions reached

• WS 10-person (Mar. 24-June 21), 50%/100 (June 22-Oct. 9, 2020) caps on worship indoors and outdoors

Collection

Religious Organizations and Nonprofits SEC-16

Operative words

[T]he District prohibited 'large gatherings' - defined to include events with ten or more persons in an indoor or outdoor space, Mayor's Order 2020-053... On May 27, the District began Phase One... in which gatherings of more than ten people were prohibited. Mayor's Order 2020-067... Phase Two began on June 22... permitting gatherings of up to 50 people. 'Places of worship are encouraged to continue providing virtual services'; if they meet in person, they may 'operate with expanded capacity limits' - the fewer of 50 percent capacity or 100 persons.... These limits are the same whether the gathering takes place indoors or outside.... [The Church's motion for a preliminary injunction is granted.]

Enforcement

Notes