In "Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Morris County", "at" 232 N.J. 543 (2018)]  the Chief Justice authored a 2018 opinion that struck Morris County's award of $4.6 million in historic preservation grant funds to restore twelve churches. The Court held that the grants ran afoul of the State Constitution's Religious Aid Clause, which dates back to 1776 and bars the use of taxpayer funds to repair churches. The grants funded repairs of church buildings that housed regular worship services. The Court found that the application of the Religious Aid Clause in the case did not violate the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause under current law, including the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in "Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer".