Summary
finding that Governor's Executive Orders limiting in person gatherings would result in irreparable harm to Orthodox Jews trying to assemble for worship
Summary of this case from Williams v. RodriguezOpinion
Docket Nos. 20-3572 20-3590
12-28-2020
AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA, Agudath Israel of Kew Garden Hills, Agudath Israel of Madison, Agudath Israel of Bayswater, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rabbi Menachem Feifer, Steven Saphirstein, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Andrew M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, in His Official Capacity, Defendant-Appellee. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, in His Official Capacity, Defendant-Appellee.
Avi Schick (W. Alex Smith, Misha Tseytlin, on the brief), Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, New York, NY & Chicago, IL, for Plaintiffs-Appellants in 20-3572. Randy M. Mastro (Akiva Shapiro, William J. Moccia, Lee R. Crain, on the brief), Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, NY, for Plaintiff-Appellant in 20-3590. Brian D. Ginsberg (Barbara D. Underwood, Solicitor General, Andrea Oser, Deputy Solicitor General, Dustin J. Brockner, Assistant Solicitor General, on the brief), for Letitia James, Attorney General of the State of New York, Albany, NY, for Defendant-Appellee in 20-3572 & 20-3590.
Avi Schick (W. Alex Smith, Misha Tseytlin, on the brief), Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, New York, NY & Chicago, IL, for Plaintiffs-Appellants in 20-3572.
Randy M. Mastro (Akiva Shapiro, William J. Moccia, Lee R. Crain, on the brief), Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, NY, for Plaintiff-Appellant in 20-3590.
Brian D. Ginsberg (Barbara D. Underwood, Solicitor General, Andrea Oser, Deputy Solicitor General, Dustin J. Brockner, Assistant Solicitor General, on the brief), for Letitia James, Attorney General of the State of New York, Albany, NY, for Defendant-Appellee in 20-3572 & 20-3590.
Before: Livingston, Chief Judge, Park and Menashi, Circuit Judges.
Park, Circuit Judge:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor of New York issued an executive order limiting the maximum allowable occupancy in "houses of worship" in certain "zones" to 10 or 25 people. Other businesses that the Governor considers to be "essential," however, face no such restrictions. Appellants Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn (the "Diocese") and Agudath Israel of America ("Agudath Israel") seek to enjoin the Governor from enforcing the capacity limits, which they allege violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
The Supreme Court already found that Appellants have made "a strong showing" that their claim is likely to prevail. See Roman Cath. Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo , ––– U.S. ––––, 141 S. Ct. 63, 66, 208 L.Ed.2d 206 (2020). We agree. The Governor's order is subject to strict scrutiny because it is not neutral on its face and imposes greater restrictions on religious activities than on secular ones. We thus REVERSE and REMAND in part, directing the district courts to enjoin the Governor from enforcing the Order's 10-and 25-person capacity limits. We VACATE and REMAND in part for the district court to determine in the first instance whether the 25% and 33% capacity limits can satisfy strict scrutiny.
I. BACKGROUND
A. COVID-19 and the Governor's Response
More than 36,000 New Yorkers have died from COVID-19, and New York has had the second-highest number of deaths per capita of any state. On March 7, 2020, Governor Cuomo declared a disaster emergency in the State, which allows him to exercise extraordinary executive powers. See N.Y. Exec. Law § 28. He can "temporarily suspend any statute, local law, ordinance, or orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof, of any agency," and can "issue any directive ... necessary to cope with the disaster." Id. § 29-a. Suspensions and directives under this law expire after 30 days, but the Governor may renew them an unlimited number of times. Id. The legislature of New York can terminate suspensions and directives "by concurrent resolution," but the Governor's actions pursuant to Executive Law § 29-a do not otherwise require legislative consultation or approval. Id.
United States COVID-19 Cases & Deaths by State , Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker (updated Dec. 26, 2020).
Governors have historically exercised this emergency authority in a limited and localized manner, most often in response to natural disasters such as severe storms or flooding. Governor Cuomo's executive orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, have been unprecedented in their number, breadth, and duration. From March to December 2020, he has issued almost 90 executive orders relating to the pandemic. Those orders affect nearly every aspect of life in the State, including restrictions on activities like private gatherings and travel.
See, e.g. , N.Y. Exec. Order 195 (May 20, 2019) (declaring disaster emergency in specified counties due to "high water levels on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River ... causing the potential for lakeshore flooding, widespread erosion, and water damage"); N.Y. Exec. Order 193 (Jan. 19, 2019) (same, due to a "severe winter storm").
See Executive Orders , Off. of the Governor, https://www.governor.ny.gov/executiveorders (last visited Dec. 27, 2020). By comparison, the Governor averaged around 35 executive orders per year in the preceding five years. See id.
See, e.g. , N.Y. Exec. Order 202.6 (Mar. 18, 2020) (ordering certain employers to "reduce [their] in-person workforce at any work locations by 50%"); N.Y. Exec Order 205.2 (Oct. 31, 2020) (requiring certain "travelers entering New York" from a non-contiguous state to "quarantine for a period of 14 days").
B. Executive Order 202.68
In response to a rise in COVID-19 cases in certain "hot spots" in the State, on October 6, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 202.68 (the "Order"), the source of the restrictions challenged here. The Order authorizes the New York State Department of Health to "determine areas in the State that require enhanced public health restrictions," classifying those areas as red, orange, or yellow zones, and imposes zone-specific restrictions on various activities.
Executive Order 202.68 was in effect through November 5, 2020. On November 3, 2020, the Governor extended the restrictions contained in Executive Order 202.68 through December 3, 2020. See N.Y. Exec. Order 202.72 (Nov. 3, 2020). And on December 2, 2020, the Governor again extended the restrictions through January 1, 2021. See N.Y. Exec. Order 202.79 (Dec. 2, 2020).
In red zones, the Order prohibits all "[n]on-essential gatherings," requires all "non-essential businesses" to "reduce in-person workforce by 100%," and allows restaurants to remain open "for takeout or delivery only." The Order imposes no additional restrictions or limitations on other businesses or gatherings, however, and schools may continue in-person instruction. The Order specifies only one other category of entities in red zones: "[H]ouses of worship," which are subject to a capacity limit of "25% of maximum occupancy or 10 people, whichever is fewer."
"Essential" businesses are subject to a 50% occupancy cap under earlier imposed restrictions. The Order originally directed the closure of schools in red and orange zones, but was later modified to allow schools to "conduct in-person instruction ... subject to compliance with guidance and directives of the Department of Health," including rigorous testing requirements. See N.Y. Exec. Order 202.79 (Dec. 2, 2020).
In orange zones, the Order limits "[n]on-essential gatherings" to 10 people and directs the closure of "certain non-essential businesses, for which there is a higher risk associated with the transmission of the COVID-19 virus," such as gyms and tattoo parlors. Restaurants may "provide outdoor service," all other businesses are again free to operate without additional restrictions other than those imposed by previous orders, and schools may remain open for in-person instruction, subject again to testing requirements. Again, "houses of worship" in orange zones are separately identified and subject to a capacity limit of "33% of maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer."
In yellow zones, which are not at issue here, the Order limits "[n]onessential gatherings" to "no more than 25 people." Indoor dining is permitted at restaurants, and schools remain open. No additional restrictions are imposed on any businesses, whether "essential" or "non-essential." Once more, however, "houses of worship" are limited to "50% of [their] maximum occupancy."
In yellow zones, other executive orders and regulations impose a similar 50% occupancy cap on all essential and non-essential businesses that is not apparent on the face of the Order.
By its terms, the Order does not apply to "essential" businesses, which State guidance describes as those "providing products or services that are required to maintain the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of New York State." This category includes not only grocery stores and hospitals, but also many businesses with more questionable connections to "health, welfare, and safety"—including liquor stores, pet shops, and financial institutions providing "services related to financial markets." The Governor has neither explained the process by which he deemed some businesses "essential" nor identified evidence supporting the classifications. Importantly, the Governor has not asserted that his categorization of businesses as "essential" or "non-essential" was based on any assessment of COVID-19 transmission risk.
Frequently Asked Questions for Determining Whether a Business Is Subject to a Workforce Reduction Under Recent Executive Order Enacted to Address COVID-19 Outbreak , Empire State Dev., https://esd.ny.gov/sites/default/files/ESD_EssentialEmployerFAQ_032220.pdf.
See Essential Business Guidance Related to Determining Whether a Business Enterprise Is Subject to a Workforce Reduction Under Executive Order 202.68 , Empire State Dev., https://esd.ny.gov/ny-cluster-action-initiative-guidance (updated Dec. 15, 2020).
Before issuing the Order, the Governor made public statements indicating that the restrictions were motivated in part by concerns about religious gatherings. For example, he noted that the source of the first coronavirus hot spot in New York "was an Orthodox Jewish man who went to a temple" and observed that "Orthodox Jewish gatherings often are very, very large and we've seen what one person can do in a group." The Governor then said that he would be meeting with members of the "ultra-Orthodox [Jewish] community," and if they would "not agree to enforce the rules, then we'll close the institutions down." Id. One day later, he issued the Order.
Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic , Off. of the Governor (Oct. 5, 2020), https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/video-audio-photos-rushtranscript-governor-cuomo-updates-new-yorkers-states-progress-during-1.
Three days after issuing the Order, the Governor explained that it addresses "a predominantly ultra-orthodox cluster." Five days later, he said the State was "having issues in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York, where because of their religious practices, ... we're seeing a spread." He said that state-level enforcement was necessary because the "ultra-Orthodox communities ... are also very politically powerful."
Governor Cuomo Is a Guest on CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto , Off. of the Governor (Oct. 9, 2020), https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/audio-rush-transcript-governorcuomo-guest-cnn-newsroom-poppy-harlow-and-jim-sciutto.
Appellants’ Br., No. 20-3572, at 9–10 (quoting Mairead McArdle, Cuomo Says ‘Religious Practices’ of Orthodox Jews Causing Virus to Spread in New York City , National Review (Oct. 14, 2020), https://www.nationalreview.com/news/cuomo-says-religious-practices-of-orthodox-jewscausing-virus-to-spread-in-new-york-city).
Governor Cuomo Announces State Will Withhold Funds for Localities and Schools in COVID-19 Cluster Zones If They Fail to Enforce Public Health Law , Off. of the Governor (Oct. 14, 2020), https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/audio-rush-transcript-governor-cuomo-announcesstate-will-withhold-funds-localities-and-schools.
The Order was not accompanied by any contemporaneous explanation of its specific limits on houses of worship. In this litigation, however, the Governor offered declarations from Dr. Howard A. Zucker, Commissioner of the State Department of Health, and Dr. Debra S. Blog, Director of the Department of Health's Division of Epidemiology. The declarations explained that "large gatherings present the greatest risk for rapid and widespread transmission of the virus in a community," citing reports of "super-spreader events" at a church in Arkansas, a wedding in Maine, a religious service in India, and a choir practice in Washington. Joint App'x, No. 20-3590, at 312–18. Comparing religious gatherings to restaurants, the declarations also asserted that "the idea [of a religious service] is a group of people coming together as a community to interact and pray together," that "[g]enerally, the congregants are arriving and leaving at the same time and are together over an extended period of time," and that "[t]his type of close interaction, while having deep meaning for the congregants, poses a higher risk of transmission of the virus." Id. at 318. The declarations did not purport to assess the transmission risk of religious worship based on any data, much less to compare religious worship with "essential" activities, and they did not explain how the Governor arrived at the specific numerical and percentage capacity limitations in the Order.
The Governor initially designated restricted zones in Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, as well as in Broome, Orange, and Rockland counties. Since issuing the Order in October, the Governor has changed the zone designations at least nine times.
The Governor announced changes to zone boundaries on October 21 and 28; November 6, 9, 11, 18, 19, and 23; and December 14.
C. Parties
1. Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
The Diocese of Brooklyn is a Roman Catholic diocese with 210 churches in Brooklyn and Queens. In 2019, the Diocese held approximately 1,000 Masses each Sunday, with an average weekly attendance of almost 230,000.
Since March 2020, the Diocese has taken various precautions to protect its parishioners and the community. On March 16, 2020—before any government lockdowns were imposed in New York—the Diocese canceled all public Masses. Three days later, it ordered a complete shutdown of all of its churches, effective on March 20. During the shutdown, the Diocese convened a commission to prepare for an eventual re-opening. In consultation with medical professionals, the commission developed a set of safety protocols, including regular cleaning of churches, limited hours, and masking and distancing requirements.
In June 2020, the Diocese began to re-open for in-person Mass, beginning with weekday services and expanding to weekend Masses in early July. Since re-opening, the Diocese has required each of its churches to abide by the safety protocols developed by its commission, and Diocesan officials have inspected services to ensure compliance. In addition, the Diocese voluntarily limited all church services to 25% of building capacity, maintaining this restriction even after the State increased the statewide limit for gatherings beyond 25%.
The Diocese asserts that its safety protocols have been successful, and the State's witness in the evidentiary hearing below acknowledged that he was unaware of any COVID-19 outbreaks associated with churches in the Diocese.
2. Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel of America is a national organization advocating for the Orthodox Jewish community in the United States. There are approximately 70 synagogues affiliated with Agudath Israel of America in New York, including three of the appellants here.
The individual appellants in No. 25-3572 are rabbis and an official of these affiliated synagogues. For simplicity, we refer to the appellants associated with Agudath Israel of America collectively as "Agudath Israel."
Like the Diocese, Agudath Israel has voluntarily instituted safety measures to protect congregants and the local community. Agudath Israel synagogues suspended services in March and did not re-open until late May or early June. Some have shortened the length of services, and others have split services into multiple separate gatherings to decrease the number of congregants present at one time; all have implemented mask requirements and other safety protocols in compliance with State guidance. The Governor does not dispute that there have been no COVID-19 outbreaks in synagogues associated with Agudath Israel.
D. Procedural History
1. District Court
After the Governor issued the Order, the Diocese and Agudath Israel each filed suit in the Eastern District of New York. The Diocese sought to enjoin enforcement of only the Order's 10- and 25-person fixed capacity limits (the "fixed capacity limits"), while Agudath Israel sought an injunction against enforcement of both the fixed capacity limits and the 25% and 33% capacity limits (the "percentage capacity limits").
The district court denied the Diocese's motion for a preliminary injunction after an evidentiary hearing. See Roman Cath. Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo , No. 20-cv-4844, ––– F.Supp.3d ––––, –––– & n.1, 2020 WL 6120167, at *1 & n.1 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 16, 2020). The district court acknowledged that the Diocese had adequately alleged irreparable harm based on the Order's "infringe[ment] on its religious practice." Id. at ––––, 2020 WL 6954120 at *5. But the court applied rational-basis review, rather than strict scrutiny, and denied the motion. The district court relied on the Chief Justice's concurring opinion in South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom , ––– U.S. ––––, 140 S. Ct. 1613, 207 L.Ed.2d 154 (2020), and various decisions applying that opinion. Roman Cath. Diocese , ––– F.Supp.3d at –––– – ––––, 2020 WL 6120167, at *9–10.
Agudath Israel likewise sought, and was denied, a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction from the district court. In an oral ruling, the court held that Agudath Israel had failed to show irreparable harm, reasoning that its congregants "can continue to observe their religion but there will have to be modifications." Tr. of Proceedings at 66, No. 20-cv-4834 (E.D.N.Y. Oct. 9, 2020). The district court also concluded that rational-basis review applied, that Agudath Israel was unlikely to succeed on the merits, and that the remaining injunction factor weighed in favor of the Governor's position.
2. Second Circuit
The Diocese and Agudath Israel appealed the district courts’ denials of preliminary injunctions. They also each filed emergency motions for injunctions pending appeal in this Court. In an order dated November 9, 2020, a divided panel denied injunctive relief pending appeal, but set an expedited schedule for resolution of the appeals. See Agudath Israel of Am. v. Cuomo , 980 F.3d 222, 228 (2d Cir. 2020). The panel majority, relying on the Chief Justice's South Bay concurrence, agreed with the district courts that rational-basis review applied because the Order "subjects religious services to restrictions that are similar to or, indeed, less severe than those imposed on comparable secular gatherings." Id. at 226. Under that standard, the panel majority reasoned, the Order was likely to pass constitutional muster. Id. at 227.
The dissenting member of the panel would have granted the injunctions pending appeal based on the view that the Order should be subject to strict scrutiny because it "singl[es] out ‘houses of worship’ for unfavorable treatment." Id. at 228 (Park, J. , dissenting). In particular, the dissent noted, the Order places no additional restrictions on secular businesses deemed "essential" while imposing stringent capacity limits on "houses of worship." Id. at 229–30.
3. Supreme Court
After the denials of injunctive relief pending appeal, and while the underlying appeals of the preliminary injunction denials remained pending in this Court, the Diocese and Agudath Israel each applied for a writ of injunction in the Supreme Court. They sought injunctions against enforcement of the Order's fixed capacity limits.
The Supreme Court granted injunctive relief for both applicants. See Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. 63 ; Agudath Israel v. Cuomo , No. 20A90, ––– U.S. ––––, ––– S.Ct. ––––, ––– L.Ed.2d ––––, 2020 WL 6954120 (Nov. 25, 2020). Specifically, the Court "enjoined [the Governor] from enforcing Executive Order 202.68's 10- and 25-person occupancy limits" on the applicants "pending disposition of the appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari, if such writ is timely sought." Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 65 ; Agudath Israel , ––– U.S. at ––––, ––– S.Ct. ––––, 2020 WL 6954120, at *1.
In a per curiam opinion, the Court held that the applicants satisfied the injunction factors and "clearly established their entitlement to relief pending appellate review." Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 66. First, the Court found that the applicants "made a strong showing that the challenged restrictions violate the minimum requirement of neutrality to religion" because the restrictions "single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment." Id. (cleaned up). And "[b]ecause the challenged restrictions are not neutral and of general applicability," the Court held, "they must satisfy strict scrutiny." Id. at 67 (internal quotation marks omitted). The Order likely failed that standard, however, because "it is hard to see how the challenged regulations can be regarded as ‘narrowly tailored.’ " Id. In particular, the Court found that the fixed capacity limits are "far more severe than has been shown to be required to prevent the spread of the virus at the applicants’ services" and that "there are many other less restrictive rules that could be adopted to minimize the risk to those attending religious services." Id.
The Court further held that "[t]here can be no question that the challenged restrictions, if enforced, will cause irreparable harm." Id. It also found that the Governor had not "shown that granting the applications will harm the public," because the Governor "has not claimed that attendance at the applicants’ services has resulted in the spread of disease" and "has not shown that public health would be imperiled if less restrictive measures were imposed." Id. at 68.
II. DISCUSSION
Appellants seek preliminary injunctions against enforcement of Executive Order 202.68's fixed capacity limits, which restrict occupancy in "houses of worship" to 10 people in red zones and 25 people in orange zones. Agudath Israel also seeks to enjoin the Order's percentage capacity limits of 25% of maximum occupancy in red zones and 33% in orange zones.
In light of the Supreme Court's Roman Catholic Diocese decision, the Governor has "withdraw[n] his objection to the entry of a preliminary injunction" as to the fixed capacity limits. Appellee's Br., No. 20-3572, at 30. He continues to maintain, however, that those limits "do not violate the Free Exercise Clause." Id. And he defends the percentage capacity limits as constitutionally permissible, arguing that they do not burden Agudath Israel's religious exercise and that they may survive strict scrutiny.
The Governor also argued before the Supreme Court that this case was moot due to his modification of zone boundaries to remove the applicants’ churches and synagogues from red and orange zones. The Court squarely rejected that argument, as do we. See Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 68 ("It is clear that this matter is not moot ... [and that] injunctive relief is still called for because the applicants remain under a constant threat that the area in question will be reclassified as red or orange." (citation omitted)). Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's November 25 decision, the Governor proceeded to renew the Order on December 2, including the challenged fixed capacity limits on houses of worship.
A. Legal Standard
When "a preliminary injunction will affect government action taken in the public interest pursuant to a statute or regulatory scheme, the moving party must demonstrate (1) irreparable harm absent injunctive relief, (2) a likelihood of success on the merits, and (3) public interest weighing in favor of granting the injunction." Friends of the E. Hampton Airport, Inc. v. Town of E. Hampton , 841 F.3d 133, 143 (2d Cir. 2016) (internal quotation marks omitted). We review a district court's denial of a preliminary injunction for abuse of discretion, but "must assess de novo whether the court proceeded on the basis of an erroneous view of the applicable law." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).
B. Likelihood of Success on the Merits
1. Strict Scrutiny
The First Amendment provides that the government "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." U.S. Const. amend. I ; see Cantwell v. Connecticut , 310 U.S. 296, 303, 60 S.Ct. 900, 84 L.Ed. 1213 (1940) (incorporating the Free Exercise Clause against the states). It is well established that discrimination against religion is "odious to our Constitution." Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer , ––– U.S. ––––, 137 S. Ct. 2012, 2025, 198 L.Ed.2d 551 (2017).
The Free Exercise Clause protects both an individual's private right to religious belief and "the performance of (or abstention from) physical acts that constitute the free exercise of religion," including " ‘assembling with others for a worship service.’ " Cent. Rabbinical Cong. of U.S. & Can. v. N.Y.C. Dep't of Health & Mental Hygiene , 763 F.3d 183, 193 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Emp. Div., Dep't of Hum. Res. of Or. v. Smith , 494 U.S. 872, 877, 110 S.Ct. 1595, 108 L.Ed.2d 876 (1990) ). This protection "does not relieve an individual of the obligation to comply with a valid and neutral law of general applicability," Smith , 494 U.S. at 879, 110 S.Ct. 1595 (internal quotation marks omitted), and such a neutral and generally applicable policy is subject to only rational-basis review, Cent. Rabbinical Cong. , 763 F.3d at 193. Official action "burdening religious conduct that is not both neutral and generally applicable, however, is subject to strict scrutiny." Id .
"To determine neutrality, we begin with the [Order's] text, ‘for the minimum requirement of neutrality is that a [government policy] not discriminate on its face.’ " Id. (quoting Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah , 508 U.S. 520, 533, 113 S.Ct. 2217, 124 L.Ed.2d 472 (1993) ). The Order fails this basic standard by explicitly imposing on "houses of worship" restrictions inapplicable to secular activities. "In a red zone, while a synagogue or church may not admit more than 10 persons, businesses categorized as ‘essential’ may admit as many people as they wish," subject to only the less stringent 50% capacity limit applicable to all businesses. Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 66. And "[t]he disparate treatment is even more striking" in orange zones, where "attendance at houses of worship is limited to 25 persons" but most non-essential businesses must comply with only the generally applicable 50% capacity limit. Id. The fixed capacity limits thus "cannot be viewed as neutral because they single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment." Id.
The Governor acknowledges that "the Supreme Court has seemingly rejected the Governor's explanation" of why the Order's fixed capacity limits are constitutional. Appellee's Br., No. 20-3572, at 33. He nevertheless continues to argue that rational-basis review applies because those limits "do not disfavor religious gatherings in houses of worship as compared with all secular activities that present a similar or greater degree of risk of COVID-19 spread," like "concerts and theatrical performances." Id. at 35 (internal quotation marks omitted). But this only highlights the fact that the Order is not neutral towards religion. Rational-basis review applies when a neutral and generally applicable policy incidentally burdens religion; a policy that expressly singles out religion for less favored treatment, as here, is subject to strict scrutiny. See Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 66–67 ; Cent. Rabbinical Cong. , 763 F.3d at 193–94 (2d Cir. 2014).
Moreover, the Order does not impose generally applicable public-health guidelines, like requiring masks and distancing or limiting capacity by time. Instead, the Governor has selected some businesses (such as news media, financial services, certain retail stores, and construction) for favorable treatment, calling them "essential," while imposing greater restrictions on "non-essential" activities and religious worship. That lack of general applicability is also subject to strict scrutiny.
Further, although the Governor asserts that "all" activities not restricted by the Order present lesser risks of COVID-19 transmission than religious worship, he has never claimed that the unrestricted category of "essential" activities was created based on transmission risk. Instead, "[t]he only explanation for treating religious places differently seems to be a judgment that what happens there just isn't as ‘essential’ as what happens in secular spaces." Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 69 (Gorsuch, J. , concurring). Courts apply strict scrutiny to assess whether a government policy impermissibly " ‘devalues religious reasons’ for congregating ‘by judging them to be of lesser import than nonreligious reasons.’ " Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak , ––– U.S. ––––, 140 S. Ct. 2603, 2614, 207 L.Ed.2d 1129 (2020) (Kavanaugh, J. , dissenting) (quoting Lukumi , 508 U.S. at 537–38, 113 S.Ct. 2217 ).
The Supreme Court's Roman Catholic Diocese opinion addressed only the fixed capacity limits, but the same reasoning applies to the Order's percentage capacity limits, which by their own terms impose stringent requirements only on houses of worship. One could easily substitute the percentage capacity limits for the fixed capacity limits into the Supreme Court's discussion of strict scrutiny without altering the analysis. Thus, both the fixed capacity and percentage capacity limits on houses of worship are subject to strict scrutiny. 2. Narrow Tailoring
Agudath Israel also argues that the Order is subject to strict scrutiny for the independent reason that the Governor "gerrymandered" the initial zone boundaries to target Orthodox Jewish communities. We need not reach this argument because we conclude that the Order discriminates against religion on its face.
Applying strict scrutiny, the Order's restrictions on houses of worship are constitutional only if they are " ‘narrowly tailored’ to serve a ‘compelling’ state interest." Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 67 (quoting Lukumi , 508 U.S. at 546, 113 S.Ct. 2217 ). As the Supreme Court observed, "[s]temming the spread of COVID-19 is unquestionably a compelling interest." Id. The question is thus whether the Order's fixed and percentage capacity limits are narrowly tailored to address that public-health concern.
Narrow tailoring requires the government to demonstrate that a policy is the "least restrictive means" of achieving its objective. Thomas v. Rev. Bd. of Ind. Emp. Sec. Div. , 450 U.S. 707, 718, 101 S.Ct. 1425, 67 L.Ed.2d 624 (1981). The government's justification "must be genuine, not hypothesized or invented post hoc in response to litigation." United States v. Virginia , 518 U.S. 515, 533, 116 S.Ct. 2264, 135 L.Ed.2d 735 (1996) ; see also United States v. Brennan , 650 F.3d 65, 106 (2d Cir. 2011). And the government must show that it "seriously undertook to address the problem with less intrusive tools readily available to it." McCullen v. Coakley , 573 U.S. 464, 494, 134 S.Ct. 2518, 189 L.Ed.2d 502 (2014). In short, "[t]o meet the requirement of narrow tailoring, the government must demonstrate that alternative measures" imposing lesser burdens on religious liberty "would fail to achieve the government's interests, not simply that the chosen route was easier." Id. at 495, 134 S.Ct. 2518.
Regarding the fixed capacity limits, the Governor has never seriously contended that they are narrowly tailored to stem the spread of COVID-19, and he appears to concede as much here. Those limits are "far more severe than has been shown to be required to prevent the spread of the virus at [Appellants’] services," particularly because the Governor has pointed to no evidence of any outbreaks related to Appellants’ churches and synagogues. Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 67. Most obviously, the 10- and 25-person restrictions do not account in any way for the sizes of houses of worship in red and orange zones. Two Diocese churches originally affected by the Order seat over 1,000 people, and more than ten accommodate over 700. Likewise, Agudath Israel of Kew Garden Hills has a capacity of over 400. "It is hard to believe that admitting more than 10 people to a 1,000-seat church or 400-seat synagogue would create a more serious health risk than the many other activities that the State allows." Id.
The fixed capacity limits also bear little relation to the particular COVID-19 transmission risks the Governor identifies. As an initial matter, the Governor's identification of those risks relied on broad generalizations made by public-health officials about inherent features of religious worship. See, e.g. , App'x, No. 20-3572, at 294 ("Generally, the congregants are arriving and leaving at the same period and are together over an extended period of time."). The government must normally refrain from making assumptions about what religious worship requires. See Our Lady of Guadalupe Sch. v. Morrissey-Berru , ––– U.S. ––––, 140 S. Ct. 2049, 2055, 207 L.Ed.2d 870 (2020) ("The First Amendment protects the right of religious institutions ‘to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine.’ " (quoting Kedroff v. Saint Nicholas Cathedral of Russian Orthodox Church in N. Am ., 344 U.S. 94, 116, 73 S.Ct. 143, 97 L.Ed. 120 (1952) )). Even taking these assertions at face value, however, the Governor must explain why the Order's density restrictions targeted at houses of worship are more effective than generally applicable restrictions on the duration of gatherings or requirements regarding masks and distancing. The Governor may not, of course, presume that religious communities will not comply with such generally applicable regulations. See Roberts v. Neace , 958 F.3d 409, 414 (6th Cir. 2020) ("What [the Governor] can't do is assume the worst when people go to worship but assume the best when people go to work or go about the rest of their daily lives in permitted social settings."). Here, Appellants have in fact made clear that they would follow generally applicable public-health regulations.
Recent public statements from the Governor cast some doubt on his experts’ claims that religious worship is self-evidently riskier than secular activities. In an address on December 11, 2020, the Governor presented a chart showing that, per "Statewide Contact Tracing Data," "Religious Activities" were the exposure source for only 0.69% of new COVID-19 infections in the state from September through November. This figure is comparable to, or lower than, the equivalent proportion for categories of activity deemed "essential": 0.84% for "Manufacturing," 0.66% for "Construction," and 0.55% for "Professional Services." See Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor Cuomo Announces Updated Zone Metrics, Hospital Directives and Business Guidelines , YouTube (Dec. 11, 2020), https://youtu.be/QA1TdlK146Y.
While essentially conceding that the fixed capacity limits are not narrowly tailored, the Governor continues to defend the percentage capacity limits. In particular, he notes that the New York State Building Code calculates maximum occupancy differently depending on the use of a particular building, and argues that "using a uniform percentage-of-occupancy limit" for religious and secular institutions alike "may produce very different results in terms of population density." Appellee's Br., No. 20-3572, at 40–41. In other words, the Governor appears to assert—for the first time in his opposition brief—that the percentage occupancy limits were in fact a narrowly tailored effort to stem the tide of COVID-19 transmission.
We remand for the district court to consider in the first instance whether the percentage capacity limits can survive strict scrutiny. It bears noting, however, that the Building Code's occupancy calculations do not refer to "houses of worship," but are instead based on neutral considerations like the type of seating used and the "function of [the] space." N.Y. State Building Code §§ 1004.5, 1004.6. In addition, the Governor's invocation of the Building Code for the first time on appeal suggests a post hoc rationalization. Cf., e.g. , Colo. Christian Univ. v. Weaver , 534 F.3d 1245, 1268 (10th Cir. 2008) (McConnell, J. ) ("We cannot and will not uphold a statute that abridges an enumerated constitutional right on the basis of a factitious governmental interest found nowhere but in the defendants’ litigating papers."). Indeed, it appears to highlight the absence of contemporaneous evidence about where the specific percentage capacity limits for houses of worship came from.
Before the Supreme Court's Roman Catholic Diocese decision, all parties to this litigation were focused primarily on the Order's fixed capacity limits. Agudath Israel chose to challenge only those limits in its application for injunctive relief in the Supreme Court. Similarly, Agudath Israel's counsel represented to this Court during oral argument on its motion for an injunction pending appeal that it was not, at that time, objecting to the 25% capacity restriction. Under these circumstances, we remand Agudath Israel's motion for a preliminary injunction as to the percentage capacity limits for the district court to decide in the first instance in light of the Supreme Court's decision and this opinion. Cf . Robinson v. Murphy , No. 20A95, ––– U.S. ––––, ––– S.Ct. ––––, ––– L.Ed.2d ––––, 2020 WL 7346601 (Dec. 15, 2020) (vacating order denying injunctive relief, sought against enforcement of New Jersey's percentage capacity limits on indoor gatherings, and remanding to the Third Circuit "with instructions to remand to the District Court for further consideration in light of" Roman Catholic Diocese ).
3. COVID-19 and Judicial Review
Finally, the context of a public-health emergency does not change the result. The district courts, the motions panel of this Court, and the Governor relied on Jacobson v. Massachusetts , 197 U.S. 11, 25 S.Ct. 358, 49 L.Ed. 643 (1905), as support for the notion that courts should defer to the executive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. But this reliance on Jacobson was misplaced.
The district courts, motions panel, and Governor also relied heavily on the Chief Justice's concurring opinion in South Bay . Whatever persuasive value that opinion may have had in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court's decision in Roman Catholic Diocese has supplanted South Bay . See Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 70 (Gorsuch, J. , concurring) ("Rather than apply a nonbinding and expired concurrence from South Bay , courts must resume applying the Free Exercise Clause.").
In Jacobson , the Supreme Court upheld a mandatory vaccination law against a substantive due process challenge. Jacobson predated the modern constitutional jurisprudence of tiers of scrutiny, was decided before the First Amendment was incorporated against the states, and "did not address the free exercise of religion." Phillips v. City of New York , 775 F.3d 538, 543 (2d Cir. 2015) ; see Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 70 (Gorsuch, J. , concurring) (" Jacobson hardly supports cutting the Constitution loose during a pandemic. That decision involved an entirely different mode of analysis, an entirely different right, and an entirely different kind of restriction."). Indeed, the Jacobson Court itself specifically noted that "even if based on the acknowledged police powers of a state," a public-health measure "must always yield in case of conflict with ... any right which [the Constitution] gives or secures." 197 U.S. at 25, 25 S.Ct. 358.
The fact that this case arises from a global pandemic is most relevant at the first prong of strict scrutiny—that is, "[s]temming the spread of COVID-19 is unquestionably a compelling interest." Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 67. Our focus then turns to whether the restrictions at issue are narrowly tailored and use the least restrictive means available to achieve that interest. To be sure, the uncertainties that accompany many novel emergencies may make it difficult to assess whether, for example, a less restrictive alternative actually exists—calling for a measure of humility on the part of the reviewing judge. But we grant no special deference to the executive when the exercise of emergency powers infringes on constitutional rights. That is precisely what the three-tiered framework for analyzing constitutional violations is for, and courts may not defer to the Governor simply because he is addressing a matter involving science or public health. "[E]ven in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten." Id . at 68 ; see also id. (confirming that "we have a duty to conduct a serious examination" into the necessity of public-health measures that infringe on constitutionally protected rights); Calvary Chapel , 140 S. Ct. at 2615 (Kavanaugh, J. , dissenting) ("[H]istory is littered with unfortunate examples of overly broad judicial deference to the government when the government has invoked emergency powers and asserted crisis circumstances to override equal-treatment and free-speech principles.").
To be clear, the First Amendment does not categorically exempt houses of worship from government regulation. See, e.g. , Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 74 (Kavanaugh, J. , concurring) ("In light of the devastating pandemic, I do not doubt the State's authority to impose tailored restrictions—even very strict restrictions—on attendance at religious services and secular gatherings alike."). And judges "are not public health experts" and "should respect the judgment of those with special expertise and responsibility in this area." Id. at 68. But where government regulations "single out houses of worship for especially harsh treatment," the government must demonstrate that its policies are narrowly tailored. Id . at 66. The Governor has failed to do that in this case.
C. Irreparable Harm
As the Supreme Court held, "[t]here can be no question that the [fixed capacity limits], if enforced, will cause irreparable harm." Id. at 67. "The loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury." Id. (quoting Elrod v. Burns , 427 U.S. 347, 373, 96 S.Ct. 2673, 49 L.Ed.2d 547 (1976) (plurality op.)). And Appellants have clearly shown that the fixed capacity limits impair their free exercise of religion by severely restricting the number of congregants who may participate in worship services.
The Diocese presented evidence that its parishioners were "devastated" by the effective closure of its churches, with some "crying" "at the front door" when told they could not enter. Joint App'x, No. 20-3590, at 657. Likewise, Agudath Israel submitted unrebutted testimony that it would be "impossible" for its congregants to "comply with both their religious obligations and the limitations of" the Order. App'x, No. 20-3572, at 257. As the Supreme Court observed:
If only 10 [or 25] people are admitted to each service, the great majority of those who wish to attend Mass on Sunday or services in a synagogue on Shabbat will be barred. And while those who are shut out may in some instances be able to watch services on television, such remote viewing is not the same as personal attendance. Catholics who watch a Mass at home cannot receive communion, and there are important religious traditions in the Orthodox Jewish faith that require personal attendance.
Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 67–68.
The court below concluded that Agudath Israel had not demonstrated irreparable harm because its congregants could "continue to observe their religion" with "modifications." This was error. See, e.g. , Hernandez v. Comm'r , 490 U.S. 680, 699, 109 S.Ct. 2136, 104 L.Ed.2d 766 (1989) ("It is not within the judicial ken to question the centrality of particular beliefs or practices to a faith, or the validity of particular litigants’ interpretations of those creeds."). Religious adherents are not required to establish irreparable harm independent of showing a Free Exercise Clause violation because a "presumption of irreparable injury ... flows from a violation of constitutional rights." Jolly v. Coughlin , 76 F.3d 468, 482 (2d Cir. 1996). Nevertheless, as Agudath Israel explained, Orthodox Jews are obligated to have an in-person minyan—a quorum—before some of Judaism's most sacred rituals. Orthodox Jews also desist from using electronics on Shabbat, so in-person gatherings are necessary for Agudath Israel's congregants. Appellants have demonstrated irreparable harm that would result without a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Order's fixed capacity limits on houses of worship.
As to the percentage capacity limits, if the district court concludes that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail on their Free Exercise claims, it would follow that the Order causes irreparable harm. See Elrod , 427 U.S. at 373, 96 S.Ct. 2673 ; Jolly , 76 F.3d at 482 ; Covino v. Patrissi , 967 F.2d 73, 77 (2d Cir. 1992) (noting that a plaintiff "has sufficiently demonstrated for preliminary injunction purposes that he may suffer irreparable harm arising from a possible deprivation of his constitutional rights"); see also 11A Charles Allen Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2948.1 (3d ed. 2020) ("When an alleged deprivation of a constitutional right is involved, such as ... freedom of religion, most courts hold that no further showing of irreparable injury is necessary." (footnote omitted)). Because the deprivation of First Amendment rights is an irreparable harm, in First Amendment cases "the likelihood of success on the merits is the dominant, if not the dispositive, factor." N.Y. Progress & Prot. PAC v. Walsh , 733 F.3d 483, 488 (2d Cir. 2013).
D. Public Interest
The remaining injunction factor, the interest of the public, also favors granting injunctive relief. As the Supreme Court noted, "it has not been shown that granting the applications will harm the public," because the Governor has not "claimed that attendance at [Appellants’] services has resulted in the spread of the disease" or demonstrated that "public health would be imperiled if less restrictive measures were imposed." Roman Cath. Diocese , 141 S. Ct. at 68.
No public interest is served by maintaining an unconstitutional policy when constitutional alternatives are available to achieve the same goal. The restrictions challenged here specially and disproportionately burden religious exercise, and thus "strike at the very heart of the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty." Id. Such a direct and severe constitutional violation weighs heavily in favor of granting injunctive relief.
III. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, with respect to the Diocese's appeal, No. 20-3590, the district court's order is reversed. We remand to the district court with directions to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Order's 10- and 25-person occupancy limits on houses of worship.
With respect to Agudath Israel's appeal, No. 20-3572, the district court's order is likewise reversed to the extent that it denied Agudath Israel's motion for a preliminary injunction as to the Order's fixed capacity limits, and we remand to the district court with directions to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcement of those limits. The district court's order is vacated to the extent that it denied a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Order's 25% and 33% capacity limits on houses of worship. As to those limits, we remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, including the application of strict scrutiny in the analysis of Agudath Israel's likelihood of success on the merits.
In the interest of judicial economy, all further proceedings and subsequent appeals shall be referred to this panel.