An Amish “Victory”: Supreme Court Erases Lower Court Decision in School Vaccine Mandate Case, Orders Review
News today: the Supreme Court has “erased” a decision against New York Amish parents who objected to vaccination mandates for children in Amish schools.
The Amish refusal to comply following a 2019 change in New York state law resulted in three Amish schools being fined a total of $118,000.
To this point, the Amish side had faced multiple losses in the case, with a federal district court, and then the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against the Amish.
But now the highest court in the land has told the 2nd Circuit to take another look at the case – and has vacated its prior decision. More from The Washington Times:
The Supreme Court on Monday erased a lower court ruling that had upheld New York’s strict school vaccine rules that don’t allow religious exemptions, telling the judges to reexamine the case with an eye toward parental rights.
Amish parents had protested New York’s rules, saying the state used to recognize religious exemptions but ditched them in 2019.
First a federal district court and then the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Amish families.
But the Supreme Court told the appeals court Monday to give the case a new look in light of last term’s ruling in a case challenging the lack of parental opt-outs to the LGBTQ diversity curriculum in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The justices vacated the 2nd Circuit opinion, meaning it is no longer in effect.
Kelly Shackelford, president of First Liberty, which represented the families, called the move a victory.
The Amish side had garnered recent support on a national level, with 22 state attorneys general submitting briefs in support of the Amish in September. So we had been waiting for news on the New York Amish school vaccine case – specifically whether the Supreme Court would look at this case themselves.
It sounds like this isn’t quite that, but does suggest that the Supreme Court believed there may be reason for the appeals court to reach a different decision given the ruling in the Maryland case.
What that second look will bring remains to be seen. Still, it was enough for Shackelford to call it a “victory”. He added:
“The Amish community in New York wants to be left alone to live out their faith just like they have for 200 years,” he said. “The Amish take their faith very seriously and are simply asking the State of New York to respect their sincerely held beliefs.”
From what I can find, it’s not indicated when the case might be reviewed. The relevant Supreme Court document (orders list) can be found here.
Reply
THANK YOU! God truly works wonders! I’m also grateful to all the wonderful Non-Amish people who helped support them in winning this case—many agreed with them. I’m not saying anyone is evil or “has the mark of the beast” for getting vaccinated. I just believe it should ultimately be each person’s choice. As mentioned before, not every Amish person sees vaccination as something you shouldn’t do, but it’s definitely a decision that should be left up to the individual.
One step closer
The Amish believe God provided the Earth with what we need to keep our bodies healthy. They trust in God for their health, and typically look to the health care system for life-threatening emergencies. I believe it’s worked for them thus far. This is one step closer to a win for them. I admire how they stand for their beliefs, even when punished by the government for doing so. They truly live the admonition to “Obey God rather than men,” as the Holy Bible teaches in Acts 5:29.
Reply
Hi, Hailey I have been waiting patiently for part 2 of A Place to Stay: How One Child Found A Home Among the Amish. When will it be posted?
Sincerely,
Daniel M.
Soon
Hi Daniel, funny you should ask, I’m actually working on it right now to be posted on Thursday – Glad you enjoy it!
Vaccines
No one should be forced to vaccinate in the U.S.
Amen!
Amen to that! It is our body and not theirs, thus it is our decision and not theirs. If anyone wants it let them go out and get it and then stop complaining about those of us who haven’t since they are so ‘safe’ now from all those particles floating around. These things are even harmful, by now the research is out on all that and the gig is up.
Good Grief
Leave the Amish alone! No one should ever be forced to s mandated vaccine. I am dead set against it and will never get any vaccines ever again!
Great!
Great news! Do not comply no matter what.
Vaccinations
Yet another double standard favoring the separatists.
Will any other private or parochial schools be exempt?
Hmmm.
others exempt?
well if they want to be exempt, they’ll have the amish to thank for it.
new york corruption
the people of the state of new york need to take back their election system. Banish the machines with the proprietary software. Run some very thorough investigations on the finances of all of the state officials and federal officials who operate in New York state. These people have to be taking money to be such ridiculous idiots. Either that or they are pedophiles whose activities are thoroughly documented by the Mossad and CIA agents who own the United States lock, stock and barrel. It’s clear that an armed insurrection is long overdue. The machinery of the state is clearly owned by the hidden clients of the Rothschild Banks. That would be principally the Vatican, the cabal which owns Washington D.C. and the city of London. Those people are not ready to compromise, so they’ll need to be jailed forever or executed. Many of them have committed capital crimes. Just like they have written policy 56 in order to steal 21 trillion from the u.s. public with the excuse of needing to lie to the public they oppress for reasons of “defense”. It’s true, they are defending themselves. They are not defending the United States of America. They are defending their criminal cabal. It would be great if some units of the u.s. military decided to act against these people. Seems pretty easy to find the proper targets. They are the people who are the only ones who have the right to work for the u.s. gov’t in sensitive positions while holding two passports. Do you folks realize which of Earth’s 200 countries are the only ones allowed to work for the U.S. Gov’t while holding a passport from that country? Let’s do it now.