Los Angeles County v. Grace Community Church

Lawsuit Filed:
February 25, 2021
Case Status
Complete

In March 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared that houses of worship must remain closed indefinitely due to fears of the spread of coronavirus.

At this time, Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church remained open and chose to defy the illegitimate and unconstitutional order. On July 24, 2020, Grace Community Church issued a statement explaining their decision.

The City of Los Angeles responded to Pastor MacArthur with a cease-and-desist letter and a daily fine of $1000 or arrest. In August of 2020, Thomas More Society began representing Pastor MacArthur and Grace Community Church.

June of 2021, Thomas More Society reached secured settlements in two other major church lockdown cases involving houses of worship. In both of those cases, the State of California agreed to enter permanent injunctions that prohibit the State from ever again imposing discriminatory restrictions on all houses of worship statewide.

August 31, 2021, Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church announced that the State of California and the County of Los Angeles had agreed to pay $800,000 in attorney's fees after state and federal courts in California issued permanent injunctions prohibiting the State of California or any of its agencies from discriminating against houses of worship.

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Big Religious Liberty Win for John MacArthur and Grace Church

MacArthur Prevails — California Court Says Church and Pastor Entitled to Trial

California Judge Issues Order Allowing LA County to Ban Worship for MacArthur and Church

Los Angeles County Yanks Parking Lot Lease Out from Under Pastor John MacArthur and Church

MacArthur Prevails — Judge Denies LA County's Fourth Attempt to Shut down Grace Community Church

Pastor John MacArthur Files Declaration Against LA County’s Repeated Attacks to Shut Down Church

Pastor John MacArthur’s Religious Freedom Upheld in Los Angeles County Superior Court

Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church Under Attack by Los Angeles County

Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church Win Right to Hold Indoor Worship Services

Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church Sue State of California

Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church Represented by All-Star Legal Team

Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church Represented by All-Star Legal Team

Case Timeline

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