people raise arms at Christian music concert Houston lawyer Jared Woodfill, no stranger to controversial cases, is at it again with a legal challenge claiming Harris County’s COVID-19 stay-home order violates religious liberty rights. Woodfill has made headlines in the past by fighting against Houston’s LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance and objecting to the city granting benefits to same-sex spouses of city employees. This time, he represents three pastors and a conservative activist, Dr. Steven Hotze, who take issue with the fact that the county’s stay-home order says churches can’t hold in-person services, but may do video or telephone services. Violating the order can bring a $1,000 fine and jail time. “The circumstances presented by coronavirus do not excuse unlawful government infringements upon freedom,” said a petition for writ of mandamus filed with the Texas Supreme Court on Monday. “The free exercise of religion cannot be taken lightly and should not be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency.” The petition claimed that the respondent, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, has usurped judicial power and grossly abused her discretion to void the First and Second Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Discovery is the largest cost in most civil actions as much […]
