"While the judge did go out of his way to repeatedly state that he is not ruling on the merits, only a ruling at this very preliminary stage, Pastor MacArthur is still harmed because he has every right to hold church," said Special Counsel Jenna Ellis. "Church is essential, and no government agent has the runaway, unlimited power to force churches to close indefinitely. The county's argument was basically ‘because we can,' which is the very definition of tyranny."