U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2023

Maryville Baptist Church v. Andy Beshear

Maryville Baptist Church v. Andy Beshear
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · Decided June 5, 2023

Maryville Baptist Church v. Andy Beshear

Opinion

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION File Name: 23a0255n.06 Case No. 22-5952 FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Jun 05, 2023 FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk

) MARYVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH; ) DOCTOR JACK ROBERTS, ) Plaintiffs-Appellants, ) ) ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED v. ) STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR ) THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF ANDY BESHEAR, in his official capacity as ) KENTUCKY Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, ) Defendant-Appellee. ) OPINION )

Before: SUTTON, Chief Judge; McKEAGUE and NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM. Maryville Baptist Church received a preliminary injunction against Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings. As time passed and the pandemic waned, the case became moot. The Church nevertheless claimed the status of “prevailing party” and sought attorney’s fees. 42 U.S.C. § 1988(b). The district court denied the motion, and the Church appeals.

During the pendency of the appeal we decided another prevailing-party case, Roberts v. Neace, 65 F.4th 280 (6th Cir. 2023). Roberts addressed Beshear’s COVID-19 restrictions, preliminary injunctions, mootness, and attendance at Maryville Baptist Church—all features of this case. We vacate and remand for the district court to apply Roberts in the first instance.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.