The lower District Court ruled against the church. But an appeal to the 9th Circuit led to a three-judge panel last December ruling in favor of Calvary Chapel, saying that the government could have imposed limitations on churches similar to those imposed on other entities like retail stores, while still achieving the goal of slowing the spread of COVID-19, The Nevada Independent reported.

The court ruled Calvary Chapel's claim that its First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion had been hindered by the State would likely succeed on the merits. At the time of the December 2020 9th Circuit ruling, Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel David Cortman representing the church called it a "significant win."

"There is no constitutional right to gamble, but there is one that protects attending worship services," he said. "The government has a duty to respect the First Amendment, so it can't single out churches for harsher treatment than secular activities. Today, the Ninth Circuit made clear that, at a minimum, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley can't be treated more harshly than Nevada's casinos, bowling alleys, retail businesses, restaurants, and arcades. Such disparate treatment is both illogical and unconstitutional."

Calvary Chapel's Senior Pastor Garry Leist told Fox and Friends the congregation was excited about the ruling in their favor.

"We're just extremely pleased to be able to come together to once again worship in person because of just how vital and essential it is to families of faith and the entire community," he said.

Now the state of Nevada has agreed to pay Calvary Chapel's legal bills incurred while defending its constitutional rights.

The Nevada Board of Examiners unanimously approved a request this week from the Office of the Attorney General to pay a tort claim to Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley in the amount of $175,000, according to The Christian Post. 

Susan Brown, chief of the board, explained at the meeting that the $175,000 payment was "to comply with the consent decree in this case that requires the state of Nevada to pay reasonable attorney fees." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'Welcomed Win': Court Orders Hawaii to Allow Good News Clubs at Every Public School

FBI Warns Americans: Stop Sending Texts Between Android and Apple Devices; Here's What To Do Instead

Co-Writer of 'Y.M.C.A.' Glad Trump Used His Song at Rallies, Says It's NOT a Gay Anthem

Trump Voices the Moral Clarity on Hostages the World Needed

7 Takeaways from the Final Hearing of Task Force Investigating Trump Assassination Attempt

Black Church Coalition Demands MSNBC Investigate Kamala Harris Campaign's Payments to Al Sharpton Prior to Interview

President Trump Doubles-Down on His Support for Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary

Daniel Penny Trial Judge Agrees to Drop Top Manslaughter Count after Jury Deadlocks Twice

Facing Potential Lawsuit, NJ Town Council Pres. Issues Obtuse 'Apology' after Ousting Man for Holding US Flag

Hezbollah Already Rebuilding Weapon Supply as Congress Honors Slain US-Israeli Soldier

America Last?: As People in North Carolina Are Still Living in Tents in the Cold, Biden Pledges More Money for Africa

Speaker Mike Johnson Nixes Biden's $24 Billion Aid Request for Ukraine [Video]

Trump Tackles Government Waste, Digital Currency, Space With Slew of Nominees

LPGA Tour Updates Gender-Eligibility Policy, Bars 'Players Assigned Male at Birth'

Justice Ketanji Jackson Makes a Fool of Herself during Oral Arguments in Trans Supreme Court Case

Supreme Court Tips Its Hand on Transgender Procedures for Minors

[Watch] Officers' 'Bravery in the Face of Danger' as They Saved Kids from a Burning Home: 'Hard to Believe Anyone Could Survive That'

Revealed: Biden Considered Pardoning Hunter in June but Directed Aides to Lie That He Wouldn't

Reports: Trump Mulls Replacing Pete Hegseth With Governor Ron DeSantis for Defense Secretary

Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister Withdraws as Trump's Nominee to Lead DEA