Press Release

Tyler & Bursch, LLP | Advocates for Faith & Freedom
January 20, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Desaré Ferraro, dferraro@tylerbursch.com or cell, 951-600-2733

San José, CA, January 20, 2021 –  Calvary Chapel San Jose Pastors Mike McClure and Pastor Carson Atherley both appeared in court last Friday, January 15, 2021 on charges of contempt of court, facing jail time and fines of up to $30,000 each, for holding indoor church and worship services.

At Friday’s trial, Tyler & Bursch and Advocates for Faith & Freedom attorneys were able to prove that it is okay for 25 people to be waiting in a bus station, standing in a bank, or washing clothes in a laundromat, but 25 people doing a Bible study or washing their souls in worship is illegal, even though the sanctuary holds 2,000 people.

With the completion of cross examination of the County’s witnesses, the Contempt trial will continue Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

With appalling fines of over $1 million for the church and possible jail time at stake, Pastor Mike McClure and Carson Atherley will appear before Judge Peter Kirwan to face Contempt charges and tens of thousands of dollars in personal fines.

Lead counsel Robert Tyler had this to say: “Sometimes it’s hard to prove the obvious when people have their minds made up in advance. We are praying that this judge will see clearly and reject the County’s aggressive posture toward this church and these pastors. The Supreme Court has already ruled, and this court must follow suit when we continue our hearing on Thursday.”

Expert witness, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, is scheduled to testify on behalf of the church. Dr. Jay has been actively researching the COVID-19 epidemic using his expertise in infectious disease epidemiology and health economics.

Attorneys will be available for additional comments and interviews by contacting Desaré Ferraro at dferraro@tylerbursch.com, 951-600-2733 (office), or 714-348-0808 (cell/text).

About Tyler & Bursch, LLP (www.tylerbursch.com): With offices in Murrieta and Irvine CA, Tyler & Bursch’s attorneys have been litigating civil liberties cases for more than 25 years in federal and state court. Tyler & Bursch provides pro-bono legal support through the non-profit legal organization, Advocates for Faith & Freedom (www.faith-freedom.com).