Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the last justice former President Donald Trump nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court before leaving office, is drawing ire from some conservatives with her decision on school vaccine mandates.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court refuses grant Indiana University students’ request to block the school’s vaccine mandate. Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected the request without referring it to the full court. https://t.co/j6ftPBimz4
— SCOTUSblog (@SCOTUSblog) August 12, 2021
As Andrew Mark Miller pointed out for Fox News, Barrett had jurisdiction over the appeals court which has ruled on the case. It was Barrett's call to make, which she did. She also could have referred to the full court, as Fox News' Shannon Bream highlighted.
BREAKING: Justice Barrett denies emergency injunction request from Indiana Univ students challenging the school’s vaccine mandate. She could have referred the matter to the full Court, but acted alone and denied the request. #SCOTUS
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) August 12, 2021
The university mandates students and staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine before classes begin on August 23, unless they qualify for exemptions, in which case they must take special precautions. Those who don't will have their registration canceled or lose their jobs.
As Miller detailed in his reporting, the vaccine mandate has been upheld by the courts all along the way, and from Republican-appointed judges:
A three-judge federal appeals court panel, including two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, was one of two lower courts to side with Indiana University and allow it to require vaccinations. The plan announced in May requires roughly 90,000 students and 40,000 employees on seven campuses to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester.
In July, an Indiana district court judge sided with the university in declining to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the vaccine mandate. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit voted 3-0 to uphold the decision earlier this week. Two of the three appellate judges were appointed by Trump and the third by former President Ronald Reagan.
The backlash against Justice Barrett was stern and swift, with some even criticizing Trump for nominating her in the first place.
Amy Coney Barrett betrays us again. I know one of the plaintiff's in this case, and warned them this would happen. Sadly, I was right. https://t.co/LEoeHXqSMU
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) August 12, 2021
Amy Coney Barrett had the chance to stop the unjust persecution of a Christian sister and left her hanging. Then could've struck a blow against the new forthcoming segregation, and punted again. Antonin Scalia is ashamed.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) August 12, 2021
Trump was WRONG on Amy Coney Barrett....
— Guru Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) August 13, 2021
His advisers are the problem... He needs to boot almost everyone surrounding him to the curb and do it NOW!!
??Breaking:
— Tim Swain (@SwainForSenate) August 12, 2021
Amy Coney Barrett disappoints again. This time REFUSING to block Indiana University’s vaccine mandates!
She acted alone and gave no explanation.
What a huge disappointment ACB has been! https://t.co/vAKLLNgZYq
Amy Coney Barrett had us all fooled.
— Art TakingBack ???? (@ArtValley818_) August 12, 2021
Remember: when GOP claims 'liberty' & 'freedom' while opposing vaccine mandates:
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 12, 2021
* A top libertarian scholar like Ilya Somin doesn't back them
* A Reagan/Trump-appointed 3-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals doesn't back them
* Justice Amy Coney Barrett doesn't back them
Amy Coney Barrett is a coward and traitor.
— ???? Matthew Holliday ???? (@Matthew_4_Trump) August 12, 2021
NEW: Justice Amy Coney Barrett refuses to block Indiana University vaccine mandate for students. She acted alone and gave no explanation.
— Greg Stohr (@GregStohr) August 12, 2021
This is the first vaccine mandate to find its way before the Supreme Court as an emergency appeal.