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Capitol Hill Baptist Church v. Bowser — U.S. District Court, D.D.C.

Capitol Hill Baptist Church v. Bowser — U.S. District Court, D.D.C. — 10 documents in the archive, dated September 22, 2020 to July 8, 2021.

Case facts

CourtU.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Docket numberNo. 1:20-cv-02710 — main docket · CourtListener docket 222397
Filings10 public filings
Filed2020-09-22 – 2021-07-08
Document typesdeclarations (2), complaint (1), motion (1), memorandum or brief (1), opinion (1), notice (1)
Original PDFs10 of 10

Case summary

Capitol Hill Baptist Church v. Bowser, No. 1:20-cv-02710 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was filed September 22, 2020 by the church against Mayor Muriel Bowser, in her official capacity, and the District of Columbia. The church sought to enjoin enforcement of the District's COVID-19 restrictions insofar as they prevented it from holding socially distanced outdoor worship services with masks, arguing the restrictions violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, among other laws. On October 9, 2020 the court granted the motion for injunctive relief, finding the church likely to succeed on its RFRA claim. The church voluntarily dismissed the action on July 8, 2021 after the parties reached a full and final settlement.

Case at a glance

PartiesPlaintiff Capitol Hill Baptist Church; defendants Muriel Bowser, in her official capacity as Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the District of Columbia. The United States filed a statement of interest and 34 senators filed an amici brief
Court and docketU.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:20-cv-02710-TNM, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden
ProgramNot named in the filings on this page. The subject is the District of Columbia's COVID-19 orders limiting gatherings
ClaimsViolation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb et seq., and constitutional claims including under the First Amendment, over the prohibition on religious gatherings of more than 100 people indoors or out
Disposition or statusVoluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on July 8, 2021 under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i) after the parties reached a full and final settlement, following a preliminary injunction in the church's favor on October 9, 2020
Status checked2026-09-23 · against DOJ press releases through 2026-09-22; court docket not yet read

What did the court decide?

That the church is likely to succeed in proving the District's actions violate RFRA: the restrictions substantially burden its exercise of religion, and the District had not offered evidence at that stage of a compelling interest in preventing outdoor meetings with appropriate precautions, or that the prohibition is the least-restrictive means. The court granted the motion for injunctive relief.

What does the complaint say the dispute is about?

That the church's doctrinal requirement of a weekly gathering of its entire congregation conflicts with the Mayor's prohibition on religious gatherings of more than 100 people, indoors or out, and that its members voted to sue after a six-month ban on its religious gatherings.

How did the case end?

With a notice of voluntary dismissal filed July 8, 2021 stating that the parties had reached a full and final settlement of the matter.

Docket

10 documents in docket-entry order; attachments follow their entry. Gaps name the entries we do not have.

No. 1:20-cv-02710

  1. Complaint — CHBC v. BowserEntry 1
  2. —Entry 2 is not in the archive
  3. Motion for Temporary Restraining Order — CHBC v. BowserEntry 3
  4. Memorandum in Support of TRO — CHBC v. BowserEntry 3, attachment 1
  5. Declaration of Matthew T. Martens — CHBC v. Bowser (D.D.C.)Entry 4
  6. —Entries 5–12 are not in the archive
  7. U.S. Statement of Interest — CHBC v. BowserEntry 13
  8. —Entries 14–28 are not in the archive
  9. —Entry 29: main document not in the archive
  10. Amicus Brief of 34 U.S. Senators — CHBC v. Bowser (D.D.C.)Entry 29, attachment 1
  11. —Entries 30–38 are not in the archive
  12. Amicus Brief of 34 U.S. Senators (ECF 39) — CHBC v. BowserEntry 39
  13. —Entry 40: main document not in the archive
  14. Declaration of Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt — CHBC v. BowserEntry 40, attachment 1
  15. —Entries 41–42 are not in the archive
  16. Memorandum Opinion (Preliminary Injunction) — CHBC v. BowserEntry 43
  17. —Entries 44–58 are not in the archive
  18. Notice of Voluntary Dismissal — CHBC v. Bowser (D.D.C.)Entry 59

More documents from this case’s dockets

4 more documents linked to this case’s dockets are in the archive and not in the docket above.

  1. Civil Cover Sheet (JS-44) - Capitol Hill Baptist Church v. Muriel Bowser (Document 1-1)Source document
  2. undatedNotice of Designation of Related Civil Cases - Civil Action No. 1:20-cv-2710 (Document 2)Source document
  3. undatedExhibit 41, 2020 Commitment March on Washington — Case 1:20-cv-02710-TNM, Document 4-41Source document
  4. undatedExhibit 42 - March on Washington: Sharpton bemoans 'broken promises' as thousands march in D.C.Source document

Other cases in the archive from U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Court, dates and docket numbers are as recorded on the filings.

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