Judge: Religious Services Are Allowed in New York

A federal judge from the Northern District of New York has ruled today that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive order which barred in-person religious services was inconsistent with constitutional law which led the judge to issue a preliminary injunction against the Governor’s Executive Order.

Starting on March 20th, in-person religious services were banned by the state. Later, on May 21st, the Governor decided to allow religious gatherings of up to ten people. Many pointed out the inconsistencies of these rules against religious gathers as compared to the guidance for businesses in phase two which allowed for up to 50% capacity, graduations with up to 150 people, and mass protests in the streets. All the Governor could muster up in response was “[b]e smart. It does not mean you go to a temple or a mosque and you sit right next to a person.”

The Governor and Mayor de Blasio did not hesitate to enforce the rules set in place by executive order against religious services - mobilizing multiple city agencies including the Police and Health departments.

The plantiffs in the case argued that the Governor’s orders and actions prevented them from exercising their first amendment rights to gather and practice their religion freely as well as their fourteenth amendment rights.

Ultimately, Gary I Sharpe, the district judge from the Northern District of New York, ruled that the Governor is barred from restricting the practice of religion within New York so long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

This decision from the judge represents a win for all practitioners of religion in New York.