Article

2022-01-04 -Land of the Free

U.S. judge blocks Pentagon from punishing Navy SEALs who refused COVID-19 vaccine

Jan 3 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday barred the U.S. Department of Defense from punishing a group of Navy SEALs and other special forces members who refused COVID-19 vaccines on religious grounds.

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, acting in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of 35 special forces service members, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Navy and Defense Department from enforcing the mandate.

Reed, who was appointed to the federal bench in Texas by President George W. Bush, said the Navy had not granted a single religious exemption to the vaccine rule.

"The Navy servicemembers in this case seek to vindicate the very freedoms they have sacrificed so much to protect. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate those freedoms," the judge wrote in a 26-page decision.

The service members had faced a range of military discipline actions for refusing the vaccine.

First Liberty Institute, a legal organization dedicated to defending U.S. religious freedoms which represented the plaintiff service members, hailed the ruling as a victory.

"Forcing a service member to choose between their faith and serving their country is abhorrent to the Constitution and America’s values," said Mike Berry, the institute's general counsel, said in a written statement.

Posted by Besoeker 2022-01-04 14:40|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 Looks like this "mandate" BS may be headed up Biden's arse before too long.

Posted by Besoeker 2022-01-04 14:42|| 2022-01-04 14:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Has the 9th Circuit ruled yet? SCOTUS?

Posted by Glenmore 2022-01-04 14:58|| 2022-01-04 14:58|| Front Page Top

#3 ...Keep in mind that even if these guys somehow manage to stay in, their careers are over, and that will be the same for anybody in any branch.

DoD is not fond of defiance, and even less fond of the defiant who win.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2022-01-04 15:09|| 2022-01-04 15:09|| Front Page Top

#4 /\ Same just about everywhere. If they wish to terminate your employment, they'll find a reason. Corporate loyalty and gold retirement watches died at about the same time.

Posted by Besoeker 2022-01-04 15:13|| 2022-01-04 15:13|| Front Page Top

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