Rev. Steven Soos v. Andrew M. Cuomo

Catholic priests Rev. Steven Soos and Rev. Nicholas Stamos, with Orthodox Jewish practitioners Daniel Schonbrun, Elchanan Perr, and Mayer Mayerfeld, sued New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Letitia James, and Mayor Bill de Blasio, challenging executive orders under New York Executive Law § 29-a, which limited religious gatherings to 10 people (later 25% capacity in "Phase Two" regions) during COVID-19, while exempting "essential" businesses and protests. The complaint, brought by Thomas More Society, alleged violations of First Amendment rights (Free Exercise, Speech, Assembly, Expressive Association), Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments (Due Process, Equal Protection), and New York’s Constitution.

On June 26, 2020, Judge Gary L. Sharpe granted a preliminary injunction, barring stricter limits on worship than on "Phase II" businesses (50% capacity). Following the Supreme Court’s Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo (2020), New York eliminated worship capacity limits.