This suggests to me that the county's attorneys had to have made some sort of major error with their case, which Grace Community attorneys Ellis and LiMandri exploited effectively. But apparently nobody knowledgeable was in the courtroom, or on the Zoom call, so unless Ellis or LiMandri goes into detail, we'll never know. And Ellis and LiMandri presumably have a confidential strategy they'll pursue in any case. Which doesn't bode well for the county.
In any case, the county has had to go back to square one and try to get another judge to issue a new temporary restraining order and go through the whole routine again, which it will begin to do on Monday, August 24. They'll have to argue their whole case one more time, with Ellis and LiMandri in opposition -- apparently far better attorneys, based on the week's developments.
In Ventura County yesterday, the Godspeak Calvary Chapel, but not Pastor McCoy, was held in contempt for holding indoor services, but the fine was only half of what the county requested.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Vincent O'Neill Jr. issued the ruling against McCoy and the Godspeak Calvary Chapel after a two-hour hearing in Ventura. He fined the chapel $3,000, but did not impose any fines on McCoy.Ventura County appears to be taking a lenient position toward the church and recognizes the danger in creating martyrs. Previously, the judge refused to order the sheriff to issue citations against congregants.That was half the $6,000 Ventura County officials had recommended against the church, based on a fine of $1,000 for each of the six services held indoors over the past two Sundays. County officials had not recommended a fine against McCoy either.
In the least publicized case, Pasadena authorities are taking a harder line against Harvest Rock Church.
Harvest Rock Church received a letter from the City of Pasadena’s Chief Assistant City Prosecutor threatening daily criminal charges unless in-person worship services cease.Exactly when and how these threats will reach a courtroom isn't clear.. . . The letter from the Pasadena prosecutor states, “Each day in violation is a separate violation and carries with it punishment up to one year in jail and a fine for each violation…. Your compliance with these Orders is not discretionary, it is mandatory. Any violations in the future will subject your Church, owners, administrators, operators, staff and parishioners to the above-mentioned criminal penalties as well as the potential closures of your Church”
In the cases of Godspeak and Grace Community in particular, the controversies have begun to generate national attention, and attendance at both churches has significantly increased. The national attention has also begun to increase the sense of urgency in other church organizations on the need to reopen.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, SD has become the first in the US to lift the dispensation over attending Sunday mass.I've got to assume this was done in consultation with the USCCB. The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau will apparently be next. I suspect this signals that pressure on civil authorities elsewhere from the Catholic Church will increase.
Beyond that, California Gov Newsom appears likely to revise once again his changing orders on what may reopen, what must close, unless he changes his mind again, and so forth. This means that all the local authorities, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Ventura County, are likely to be in the position of trying to enforce orders no longer in effect.
