Background
Calvary Chapel San Jose and its senior pastor Mike McClure were fined over $1.2 million by California authorities for holding worship services during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The church argues that while they were penalized for religious gatherings, the state simultaneously allowed comparable secular activities such as dining at restaurants, attending sporting events, and getting haircuts. Following adverse rulings in lower courts, the church petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari in December 2025.Legal Question
Can a state impose substantial financial penalties on religious institutions for conducting worship services during a public health emergency when the state's restrictions exempt comparable secular activities, and does such differential treatment violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment?Holding
The case outcome is pending, as the Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to grant certiorari or rule on the merits. The church seeks reversal of the California appellate court decision that upheld the fines imposed during the pandemic restrictions.Significance
This case represents a critical test of religious liberty protections in emergency circumstances, particularly following the Supreme Court's recent emphasis on equal treatment between religious and secular activities in cases like Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo (2020). The Court's decision could establish important precedent for how governments must balance public health measures with constitutional religious freedoms, especially regarding whether religious activities can be treated less favorably than comparable secular activities. The substantial financial penalties at stake also raise questions about whether such enforcement mechanisms constitute an impermissible burden on religious exercise.Key Statutes & Provisions
- First Amendment Free Exercise Clause
- First Amendment Establishment Clause
- Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause
- California state emergency powers statutes and COVID-19 public health orders
- Legal standards including strict scrutiny analysis for religious liberty claims and the principle of equal treatment established in recent Supreme Court precedents
Official Documents
No official documents found yet.
Calvary Chapel San Jose v. State of California is a Church & State case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025. The case resulted in a Pending outcome.
## Background
Calvary Chapel San Jose and its senior pastor Mike McClure were fined over $1.2 million by California authorities for holding worship services during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The church argues that while they were penalized for religious gatherings, the state simultaneously allowed comparable secular activities such as dining at restaurants, attending sporting events, and getting haircuts. Following adverse rulings in lower courts, the church petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari in December 2025.
## Legal Question
Can a state impose substantial financial penalties on religious institutions for conducting worship services during a public health emergency when the state’s restrictions exempt comparable secular activities, and does such differential treatment violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment?
## Holding
The case outcome is pending, as the Supreme Court has not yet decided whether to grant certiorari or rule on the merits. The church seeks reversal of the California appellate court decision that upheld the fines imposed during the pandemic restrictions.
## Significance
This case represents a critical test of religious liberty protections in emergency circumstances, particularly following the Supreme Court’s recent emphasis on equal treatment between religious and secular activities in cases like Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo (2020). The Court’s decision could establish important precedent for how governments must balance public health measures with constitutional religious freedoms, especially regarding whether religious activities can be treated less favorably than comparable secular activities. The substantial financial penalties at stake also raise questions about whether such enforcement mechanisms constitute an impermissible burden on religious exercise.
## Key Statutes & Provisions
– First Amendment Free Exercise Clause
– First Amendment Establishment Clause
– Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause
– California state emergency powers statutes and COVID-19 public health orders
– Legal standards including strict scrutiny analysis for religious liberty claims and the principle of equal treatment established in recent Supreme Court precedents
*Note: Since this case has a 2025 date and pending status, some details about the final disposition and complete procedural history may not be available in current records.*