Kansas Supreme Court Sides With Governor, Preserving Ban On Large Church Services

TOPEKA, Kansas — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won a ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court Saturday that said she holds sweeping powers to shut down operations in the state, including large church services, in the face of a public health crisis.

The high court said that a panel of legislative leaders lacked the power to reverse Kelly’s controversial limits on church and funeral services. She had said the action was needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19.

That meant that late on the night before Easter, Kelly’s order banning church gatherings of more than 10 congregants remained in force.

The ruling forced the justices to weigh in on an issue that tangles together politics, religion and debate about the powers granted to a governor when a deadly pandemic strikes.

Read more: https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-supreme-court-sides-governor-preserving-ban-large-church-services