The Supreme Court has struck down California Governor Gavin Newsom’s ban on indoor church services.

The court loss is likely to provide a boost to the recall effort against him.

According to The Washington Free Beacon:

The decision, handed down Friday night, ruled in favor of several churches that had sought government protection from bans on in-person, indoor religious services instituted because of the coronavirus crisis. The decision cited the Supreme Court’s previous ruling in favor of churches that established the High Court’s position that religious services could not be treated differently than secular essential services. Kevin Faulconer, a former San Diego mayor and leading Republican gubernatorial candidate, said the Court has repeatedly defeated Newsom’s attempts to restrict constitutionally protected actions.

“Gavin Newsom has put in place uneven and inconsistent COVID-19 restrictions on private entities that are not always supported by science,” Faulconer said. “The Supreme Court has ruled that religious communities have been unfairly and unconstitutionally singled out by these unilateral orders. This should send a message to Newsom to stop infringing on the rights of people of faith.”

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The decision comes as Newsom faces a recall effort that emerged largely out of anger over his handling of the pandemic. The deadline for the recall push is approaching in mid-March, and with Newsom scrambling to change his approach and loosen restrictions on economic and social activity in the state in the midst of increasing criticism, the Court’s decision could mark a turning point.

National Republican leaders have also criticized Newsom’s handling of the crisis, as well as his targeting of churches. Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said the ruling is a major blow against the Democrat’s handling of the coronavirus crisis and criticized Newsom’s hypocrisy.

This makes it clear that the pandemic does not rewrite the constitution. At least in this case.