Mike Jenkins | January 15, 2026
(Tampa Free Press)
A legal advocacy group is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a high-stakes financial battle between a California county and a local church, arguing that million-dollar fines for COVID-19 violations are unconstitutional now that the underlying restrictions have been struck down.
The Liberty Justice Center (LJC) filed an amicus brief this week in the case of Calvary Chapel San Jose v. California. The appeal centers on more than $1.2 million in penalties levied against the church for holding indoor religious services during the pandemic.
According to the LJC, Santa Clara County has continued to pursue collection of the fines even though the U.S. Supreme Court previously ruled that similar restrictions on worship services in California violated the Constitution.
The brief argues that enforcing these penalties violates the First Amendment right to religious liberty, as well as the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on excessive fines. Attorneys for the LJC contend that the county is using “financial ruin” to bypass judicial review, noting that the fines are “grossly disproportionate” compared to penalties for other activities deemed dangerous during the pandemic.
“Religious exercise is a core constitutional protection, and local governments need to respect those rights, even where it’s inconvenient for them,” said Reilly Stephens, senior counsel and Director of Amicus Practice at the Liberty Justice Center. “Imposing fines for illegal restrictions validates the government’s bad behavior, and we hope the Supreme Court takes up the case and affirms the church’s rights once and for all.”
The filing highlights a disconnect in the lower courts, noting this is the fifth time a California court has upheld penalties or restrictions despite guidance from higher courts regarding religious practice during the health crisis.
The Liberty Justice Center has pointed to its recent track record in similar litigation as evidence of ongoing government overreach related to pandemic-era policies.
In 2022, the firm won a free speech victory in McDonald v. Lawson regarding the California Medical Board’s ability to penalize doctors for dissenting opinions. They also secured a win in Mississippi, restoring access to emergency funds for private independent schools.
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