Calvary Chapel San Jose, California, to Appeal $1.2 Million Fine for Breaching COVID-19 Lockdown Orders

Calvary Chapel San Jose is planning to appeal a $1.228,700 fine imposed for violating Santa Clara County’s mask-wearing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The church, led by Pastor Mike McClure, was fined for refusing to comply with public health orders from November 2020 and June 2021. The decision was upheld by an appeals court on April 15, prompting the church to continue its legal challenge.

The fines were based on a notice of violation that the church’s legal team argues was unconstitutional. Robert Tyler of Tyler Law LLP, representing Calvary Chapel through Advocates for Faith & Freedom, stated that the court of appeal ignored key arguments regarding the notice’s validity. “The written decision was wrong both legally and factually,” Tyler said, adding that the church plans to seek a rehearing and eventually appeal to higher courts, including the California Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Calvary Chapel has long opposed county mandates requiring masks and social distancing at its services. The church argued that these orders were unconstitutional and that the fines were excessive. During the pandemic, the congregation faced multiple fines for noncompliance, which it refused to pay. The church also filed a lawsuit against the county over the restrictions, which was rejected by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in a unanimous ruling last year.

The appellate panel upheld a lower court decision from 2023, which found that the trial court had properly abstained from the church’s lawsuit due to an ongoing state case. In February 2024, a trial court ruled that Calvary Chapel owed the reduced fine of $1.228,700. The church’s legal team maintains that the notice of violation was void and that the court failed to address this critical issue.

The case highlights the broader tensions between religious freedom and public health mandates during the pandemic. Calvary Chapel’s legal battle reflects the church’s commitment to its interpretation of constitutional rights, even as it faces financial and legal consequences for its stance. The church’s continued appeal underscores its determination to challenge what it views as an overreach of government authority.

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