No. 23-915

Pleasant View Baptist Church, et al. v. Andrew Beshear

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2024-02-23
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: 42-usc-1983 burden-of-proof civil-rights constitutional-rights covid-19-restrictions free-exercise free-exercise-clause qualified-immunity state-actor
Latest Conference: 2024-04-12
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Whether qualified immunity applies to a state
actor who, despite multiple circuit court decisions
directing him not to burden religious activities more
than secular activities where the risks of COVID-19
transmission are comparable for both, continues to
violate the Free Exercise Clause by burdening religious
activities more than secular activities where the risks
of COVID-19 transmission are comparable for both?

2. Whether this Court should overrule, or at least
modify, its prior cases concerning the defense of
qualified immunity, at least as applied to a state actor
who has the benefit of forethought and premeditation,
where the defense is contrary to the plain text of 42
U.S.C. § 1983?

3. Whether qualified immunity is an affirmative
defense with the burden of proof on the party raising it,
or whether a plaintiff has the burden of disproving the
defense?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether qualified immunity applies to a state actor who violates the Free Exercise Clause

Docket Entries

2024-04-15
Petition DENIED.
2024-03-20
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/12/2024.
2024-03-15
Waiver of right of respondent Andy Beshear to respond filed.
2024-02-20
2023-11-28
Application (23A481) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until February 20, 2024.
2023-11-22
Application (23A481) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from January 1, 2024 to February 20, 2024, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

Andy Beshear
Taylor Allen PayneOffice of the Governor of Kentucky, Respondent
Pleasant View Baptist Church, et al.
Thomas B. BrunsBruns, Connell, Vollmar & Armstrong, LLC, Petitioner