Federal Judge Steven Merryday issued an order yesterday in Navy SEAL 1 v. Austin in response to Liberty Counsel’s request for class certification for the service members in every branch of the military to provide relief from the unlawful shot mandates.
Liberty Counsel represents plaintiffs from all branches of the military who were denied religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate.
Judge Merryday has requested that military plaintiffs who reside in or are deployed in the Florida counties of Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk or Sarasota be added to the case along with the existing plaintiffs.
Since there are Navy plaintiffs in these counties, Judge Merryday ruled that the Navy will have the benefit of the existing class certification and class-wide injunction issued in the Texas case.
As soon as a Marine plaintiff is added in one of the counties, Judge Merryday will rule on class certification for the Marines. While the lawsuit includes Marines, Merryday wants a plaintiff from each class to reside in one of the counties of the Tampa district. It appears Judge Merryday is favorable to class-wide certification and injunctive relief for the Marines.
The Air Force case is temporarily stayed pending the ruling on class certification in the Georgia and Ohio cases.
The Army, Coast Guard, and National Guard cases will add plaintiffs in one of the Tampa district counties. A U.S. Space Force plaintiff in the district will also be added.
Liberty Counsel is very close in getting class certification for the U.S. Marines and will not back down, retreat, cower or abandon the objectives to see that religious beliefs are accommodated in respect to Biden’s unlawful military shot mandate. This includes continuing to press the claim that there is no FDA approved COVID shot available.
In addition, the pending preliminary injunctions already issued in the case remain in effect. Judge Merryday also extended the temporary restraining order for the Air Force Cadet through June 30.
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Time is of the essence to obtain class certification and protection for every branch of the military from the unlawful shot mandate. Our honorable men and women are under tremendous pressure and are being terribly abused. We will not leave anyone behind. We will not stop until every service member is protected and the Constitution and federal law is upheld. These honorable and brave service members fight for our freedom. We will continue to fight for them.”
