Gabriel Rench, Sean Bohnet and Rachel Bohnet v. The City of Moscow, Idaho, et al.

In Gabriel Rench, Sean Bohnet, and Rachel Bohnet v. City of Moscow, Idaho, plaintiffs, represented by Thomas More Society, sued the City of Moscow, its police chief, officers, and prosecuting attorney for violating their First and Fourth Amendment rights.

The case arose from their September 23, 2020, arrests during a Christ Church “Psalm Sing” protest against a COVID-19 mask mandate. Despite Moscow City Code § 1-11-07 exempting expressive and associative activities, including speech, assembly, and religious activity, protected by the U.S. and Idaho Constitutions, the plaintiffs were arrested for not wearing masks or socially distancing. The Bohnets were also charged under Idaho Code § 18-705 for refusing to identify themselves, which they argued was unconstitutional absent reasonable suspicion of a crime.

On July 25, 2023, Thomas More Society announced a $300,000 settlement. The settlement, approved by U.S. District Judge Morrison England Jr., followed his February 2023 denial of the city’s summary judgment motion, affirming the ordinance exempted the plaintiffs’ actions, rendering their arrests wrongful and dismissing all claims with prejudice.