Court Refuses to Reconsider Religious Exemption Case Over Vaccine Mandate

The Supreme Court denied a rehearing request from New York healthcare workers who lost their jobs after refusing COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds. The court had previously declined to review the case, with Justices Gorsuch, Thomas, and Alito dissenting. The workers argued that lower courts are split on the issue.

EXPANDED:

The court’s latest action follows its initial rejection of the workers’ appeal in late June, which drew a pointed dissent from three conservative justices. In their rehearing request, the workers highlighted a widening circuit split, noting that both the 2nd and 9th Circuits have adopted frameworks allowing state statutes to override federal religious accommodation claims.