U.S. Justice Amy Barrett Denies Indiana Univ Students Request To Block Vaccine Mandate

Amy Coney Barrett Denies Indiana University Students’ Request to Block Vaccine Mandate, Refuses to Explain

JACK HADFIELD

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the last appointment to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, summarily denied a case from eight students of Indiana University who were challenging their institution’s vaccine mandate.

Barrett, with no explanation, turned away the emergency injunction request from the students, who argued that the vaccine mandate from Indiana University violated their constitutional rights. Acting in her role as the Circuit Justice for the Seventh Circuit, which includes Indiana, acted alone, and denied the request to send it on to the Supreme Court without even asking the university to file a response to the petition. The case would have been the first time that SCOTUS examined the constitutionality of vaccine mandates.

Indiana University had announced their vaccine mandate in May, with all students, staff and faculty being forced to take the vaccine, or suffer “strong consequences,” which amount to “virtual expulsion,” including cancelling class registration and restriction from on-campus activity. Exemptions are offered but are “extremely limited,” including religious exemptions. However, those exempt are forced to be tested twice a week for COVID-19 and wear facemasks in all public spaces.

In court papers, the students argued that they have “legitimate concerns including underlying medical conditions, having natural antibodies, and the risks associated with the vaccine,” further highlighting that all of them are adults who are “entitled to make their own medical treatment decisions, and have a constitutional right to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice.” In enforcing the vaccine mandate, the university is “treating its students as children who cannot be trusted to make mature decisions,” the papers continue. (READ MORE: Biden Administration Considers Federal Employee Vaccine Mandate, Suggests People Who Refuse Vaccine Are Stupid)