The decision was a rebuke of states' reach of power during a pandemic and is at odds with a decision the high court made in September upholding California Governor Gavin Newsom's restrictions on places of worship.
In that case, the court took no action, allowing Newsom's order to stand. The difference? Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was on the court.
Notably, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with science in both cases, but Ginsburg's death and Barrett's appointment have significantly changed the dynamics of the court.With the recent decision, we can expect California religious leaders to head back to court in an effort to get restrictions eased, and look for sympathetic justices to hand over the keys.