(Fox News) – The pastor, Tony Spell, claimed in a Nov. 18 filing that Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ restrictions violated his First Amendment rights. Spell drew national attention after he continued to hold services in person at Life Tabernacle Church during the pandemic despite state guidelines.

On Friday, Associate Justice Samuel Alito rejected Spell’s request without comment, Fox News’ Shannon Bream and Bill Mears reported. The justice declined to refer the case for review before the full Supreme Court. Spell faces nine criminal charges, including six misdemeanor counts for “breaking the Governor’s orders,” according to his initial filing.

He was also charged with a felony for his role in an alleged confrontation with protesters. The pastor said “no confrontation ever took place” during the incident that led to his felony charge. Spell was placed under house arrest after he refused to agree to bail terms that called for him to stop preaching at his church.

“The State has shown a shocking and unprecedented commitment to criminally prosecuting its strongest dissenter in violation of one of the First Amendment’s most precious guarantees: the right of a church, which by definition is an assembly, to decide whether to assemble or not,” the filing said. Alito was assigned the case based on his jurisdiction over the 5th Circuit Court (all associate Supreme Court justices have oversight of federal circuit courts). READ MORE