The Amish Were Fined $118,000 For Refusing Vaccinations In Their Schools. Now They’re Appealing To The Supreme Court
Back in March, we looked at the case of three New York Amish schools which were fined a six-figure sum for refusing to comply with state vaccination requirements.
In 2019, the three schools were each hit with fines in the tens of thousands of dollars, for a total of $118,000.
Just to be clear, these fines concern unvaccinated Amish children attending Amish-owned, Amish-run private schools – not public schools.
The Second Circuit Court ruled against the Amish side in March – in sum, that the New York vaccine law “does not violate the constitutional rights of Amish parents or their school-age children.”
Now the Amish involved are asking the Supreme Court to hear their case:
Three Amish schools in New York have petitioned the Supreme Court, asking the justices to rule that the First Amendment supersedes a state law requiring that school children be vaccinated.
Most states allow for religious exemptions from mandatory vaccinations for children to attend school. However, four states have recently eliminated religious exemptions. One of them is New York, which did away with faith-based exemptions in 2019, according to the Amish schools’ filing.
“Today in New York, if a vaccine would harm your lungs, you may be exempted; but if it would harm your soul, you may not,” reads their petition, filed Thursday. “This makes New York an outlier. Forty-six other States (and the District of Columbia) allow religious exemptions to their school vaccine requirements.”
Like many Amish, the people involved here do not get vaccinated at the same levels as the general public, for various reasons.
Their side has presented this case as a matter of religious freedom, and previously appealed on similar grounds as arguments used in the successful Wisconsin v. Yoder Supreme Court case pertaining to schooling.
That tack failed in the Second Circuit; perhaps it will have more purchase in the highest judicial venue in the land – if, of course, the Supreme Court decides to hear it. More on that:
They asked in their filing that the high court decide if a state law that rejects religious exemptions but allows secular ones for medical reasons runs afoul of the First Amendment.
They also asked the high court to revisit the precedent, Employment Division v. Smith. Religious liberty advocates have long wanted the high court to take another look at that decision.
It would take four justices to vote in favor of hearing the dispute for oral arguments to be granted next term, which begins in October and runs through June 2026.
When will the Court decide whether to hear this case?
I dug around a bit looking for info on when the Supreme Court decides which cases to hear. As of June 30, the Court had decided to hear 32 cases for the 2025-2026 term (before adjourning for their summer break).
According to the official Supreme Court website, the court hears about 80 cases per term. So it sounds like there is a good bit of room for more cases to be added to the next term – close to 50, if this turns out to be an “average” term.
At SCOTUSBLOG, I found this bit in a post on this case (as well as some others pertaining to vaccination): “The Supreme Court will likely announce whether it will hear any of the new vaccine-related petitions sometime this fall”.
Apparently the final decisions on which cases to hear could come as late as September. So in summary, we should know by next month whether or not the Amish in New York will have their case heard by the Supreme Court.
Finally, if you’re wondering how the Amish are involved in a lawsuit, they have outside representation that have taken their case.
The Amish typically do not sue, but if outside bodies wish to aid them, they may accept such an initiative on their behalf. We’re seeing the same thing right now with the conservative Amish in Ohio suing over the state’s buggy lighting law.
Fight it.
I am glad they refused them. I took the shots and the last booster I had gave me a very strange reaction 15 min after having it. I won’t take any more of them. Wished I didn’t take the first ones. I am glad they are fighting it. They are finding many things wrong. It sure isn’t right different states have different rules. What is good for one should be for all.
Alberta -
Intuitively, from the outset – I felt a grim sense of foreboding per the Covid-related. I am not Amish, but, I surely forego all vaccines. So many other (traditional) approaches/helpers. I wish you so well (and, good for you, “no more”).
In support of the Amish -
Per NO vaccinations!!
Fight it!
I agree with the Amish! No parent should be forced to vaccinate their children Amish or English for ANY reason. What has come to light in the past 5 years regarding the dangers of vaccines and the complete lack of proper trial studies, should concern and give pause to every parent. The amish have no instances of Autism, which some of us believe is caused by vaccines, not to mention severe reactions that have been reported to VAERS. I stand wholeheartedly with them on this!
SCOTUS & vaccines . . . Amish Sue
Hello all,
I used to be all for vaccines (at least for myself) but last year, I started getting incredibly sick just 24 hours after getting another COVID booster. I had the original 2-shot vaccine and have been boosted 4 times since. So 5 times from 2020-ish until 2024. NOPE, no more! I’m 56 yrs old and in reasonably good shape. Will probably still get Flu & Pneumonia vaccines from time to time, but that’s about it. I agree, the 4 states that refuse a religious exemption are WRONG. It should be up to the parents, not the darn government! Hope the SCOTUS hears their case and rules in their favor . . . but with RFK, Jr. having much to say, I won’t hold my breath. P.S. Do they still have to pay that $118,000.00 fine though??
Fight it!
Whatever you do, refuse the shots. They are not what they claim to be.
I hope they win the case!
Why isn’t the pro-abortion advocates coming to their side? You know — the “My body, ,my choice” group?
Let's hope...
Let’s hope for several things, including a reminder of what happened in 1972 when the Amish prevailed with the Supreme Court regarding mandatory school attendance. As a society, we seem to be shifting to a double standard that amounts to social engineering by governments. Some minority groups become privileged, others become persecuted. The Amish are often misunderstood and persecuted. Or exploited.
Let’s also hope they have great representation. Many lower courts are grabbing power in the interest of political activism, not the law.
Interesting subject.
On one hand we have the rights of the individual, and on the other the general public. This doesn’t just apply to the Amish, and the states argument will be that vaccinations protect the larger public body. This song has been played before, and the claimants lost, hence the mandatory vaccinations we have today.
Personally, I don’t want anyone in my family coming in contact with sick people if it can be avoided. It’s not just a case individual rights, but also others that come in contact with the unvaccinated, the general public. Can the state step in and protect the children from their parents religious wishes? Stay tuned.
Lyn
If they’re vaccinated (and apparently believe in the vax to protect them), why would they care if anybody else gets the jab? Or don’t they REALLY believe it works? Maybe they are just following the herd and finding comfort in what the government tells them and maybe they want everyone to relinquish their rights to personal responsibility and choice.
Like someone else said, where are all those pro-abortionists claiming “MY body, MY choice”?
That’s outrageous! The Amish seem to be healthier than the rest of us. I hope they get their day in court & win.
My feelings about the lights on buggies is that something does need to be done to the buggies so that they stand out in the dark. Some of those backroads, like in Indiana (don’t know about other communities) get pretty darned dark. If someone is going up a hill, they might not see the buggy til they get to the crest, cos sometimes everything just blends together. And it would help on foggy/rainy days where conditions can be somewhat questionable. It’s also a safety thing for everyone, and I would think that with all the number of buggy vs autos, that it would make sense.
BTW: thank you for all the great articles. I discovered The Amish when I lived in Indiana, and plan on moving back. They make the best sourdough bread east of the Rockies!
Vaccinations
This administration has been dishonest about vaccines hurting people. There will be people who have bad reactions to them and those parole should be exempt, however, these vaccinations are a good way to either prevent a disease or lower the risk of serious complications. The Amish interact with English in many public places and therefore can spread sicknesses. Vaccines such as polio, measles, chicken pox and other potentially dangerous illnesses should be accepted by the Amish as they may adversely affect those people who, due to an autoimmune disease or bad reactions to the vaccines, etc., cannot takes advantage of vaccines.
You’re Vaccinated, Why Worry About the Amish?
The English shouldn’t have to worry — they’re vaccinated, right? It’s their decision to interact with the Amish. In fact, the English often carry more illnesses than the Amish do. And while so many of our vaccinated children struggle with ADHD, learning disabilities, and autism, the Amish, who live without these shots, don’t face those issues at the same rate. Forcing vaccines on them isn’t protection — it’s government overreach against a healthy, self-sufficient community.
Government Overreach Has Gone Too Far
New York needs to stay out of the private lives of the Amish and stop trying to force vaccinations on their children. The Amish are a private, self-sufficient people with their own beliefs and traditions. They do not want these chemicals injected into their children, and it’s their right to refuse. The government should not be in the business of controlling every aspect of people’s lives — especially when it comes to health decisions that families are perfectly capable of making for themselves. Forcing medical procedures on those who do not want them is wrong, and it’s time to respect their freedom to live according to their own values without interference.
Separation of church and state?
I did get the vacs and 1 booster. I always get the flu shot every year. The only time I was sick from the flu shot is when I was under the influence of the covid shots. Even when they were shoving these vacs at us during covid, there was concern about giving children the vaccines. Groups like the Amish and Old order Mennonites are easy government targets because their nonresistance stance and their religious beliefs. You notice during covid you couldn’t go to church (mine held services anyway) but you could go to Home Depot. By the way where is the ACLU? Oh, that’s right not liberal enough cause or a big enough news story .
addendum
I based my post on covid vacs, I got off on a tangent. The government needs to let these people to make their vac or no-vac decisions for their schools. Respect their religious beliefs.
Freedom First
Don’t let anyone inject you if you don’t want it, regardless of faith.