U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer denied the emergency injunction pending appeal (IPA) without prejudice on behalf of more than 2,000 Maine health care workers. Justice Breyer made clear the denial was “without prejudice” and that the request could be refiled if the First Circuit Court of Appeals denies relief or if the First Circuit does not rule by October 29.
Governor Mills has threatened to revoke the licenses of all health care employers who fail to mandate that all employees receive the COVID-19 injection, despite the unconstitutional fact that she is discriminating against religious employees who decline vaccination while favoring those who decline for secular, medical reasons. The governor originally stated health care workers must receive a COVID-19 injection by October 1 and then extended the deadline for compliance to October 29. However, this required that plaintiffs had to accept the first injection that violates their sincerely held religious beliefs by no later than Friday, October 15, 2021.
Gov. Janet Mills’ “COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate” purports to override both Title VII employment law and the First Amendment Free Exercise clause. Her discriminatory order mandates the shots and states health care workers cannot raise religious exemptions claims. This edict would force numerous doctors, nurses, medical professionals and other health care workers to choose between the exercise of their sincerely held religious beliefs and their employment.
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We are pleased that the Supreme Court is ready to consider this case if we do not get relief at the First Circuit Court of Appeals or if the lower court does not rule by October 29. As of Monday, our case is now fully briefed at the court of appeals. We look forward to an expedited ruling. There is no question that Gov. Janet Mills cannot nullify federal law and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
