Amish families and schools are asking the justices to reconsider whether New York may enforce its school vaccination requirements without a religious exemption.
Several Amish individuals and schools in New York have again asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their challenge to the state’s school vaccination requirements.
The petition follows a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejecting their constitutional challenge.
New York eliminated its religious exemption from school vaccination requirements in 2019. The Amish plaintiffs say vaccination conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs and that enforcing the law against their private community schools substantially burdens their free exercise of religion.
Case Returns to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court previously sent the dispute back to the Second Circuit for reconsideration following its decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a separate religious-liberty case involving parental objections to public-school instruction.
The Second Circuit again ruled against the Amish plaintiffs. Their attorneys are now asking the Supreme Court to review that decision.
First Liberty Institute and other firms representing the Amish argue that New York accommodated religious objections to school vaccination requirements for decades before repealing the exemption.
New York has defended its vaccination requirements as a public-health measure that applies to students attending schools in the state.
Court Has Not Decided Whether to Hear Case
The filing does not mean the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. The justices must first decide whether to grant review. If they decline, the Second Circuit ruling will remain in place.
