Liberty Counsel won an emergency injunction Saturday, May 2 from a unanimous three-judge panel on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals prohibiting the enforcement of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s March 19 and 25 COVID-19 orders against church services at Maryville Baptist Church and its pastor Dr. Jack Roberts. The rare Saturday injunction protected the church services this past weekend. The Court ruled that the church is likely to succeed on the merits of the First Amendment Free Exercise Clause and the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. On Thursday night, Liberty Counsel filed for an injunction pending appeal. On Friday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron filed an amicus brief in support of Liberty Counsel’s lawsuit against Beshear, stating: “The Court should enter an injunction pending appeal ‘to prevent irreparable harm.’” The March 19 and 25 orders issued by Gov. Beshear prohibit all religious services, while allowing many secular exemptions. Liberty Counsel sued Governor Beshear on behalf of the church after Kentucky State Police descended on the church’s Easter Sunday service and posted notices of criminal violation on all cars in the parking lot, even while the church attendees were listening in their cars to the church’s “drive-in” service. The […]
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