The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by eight Snohomish County firefighters who challenged the handling of their religious objections to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The decision leaves a ruling against them by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in place.
The firefighters refused vaccination under a 2021 mandate and argued that Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue could have let them continue using precautions adopted before vaccines were available. The agency said an exemption would create undue hardship because of health risks, potential liability and lost contracts. Under an agreement with the union, the firefighters were placed on unpaid leave for eight months.
The Ninth Circuit found that the agency's medical evidence showed the proposed precautions were inadequate and that accommodating the firefighters in October 2021 would have caused undue hardship. Jennifer Kennedy, an attorney for the firefighters, criticized the outcome as a setback for workers seeking religious accommodations. Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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