Amish Schools Challenge New York Vaccine Fines in Supreme Court Appeal

Following a measles surge that hit Orthodox Jewish communities, New York removed religious vaccine exemptions in June 2019, prompting fines of $118,000 against three privately run Amish schools for non-compliance. The Amish community, historically hesitant about vaccinations, filed Miller v. McDonald, claiming the law violates their First Amendment free-exercise rights because it retains a medical exemption while discarding the religious one.

The District Court for the Western District of New York and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals both ruled the statute neutral and generally applicable. However, the Supreme Court’s recent Mahmoud v. Taylor decision, which affirmed parental religious rights in education, has led the Court to ask the appellate court to reconsider the Amish case. Represented by First Liberty’s Hiram Sasser, the plaintiffs argue that the precedent set by Wisconsin v. Yoder should protect their way of life. The Court must decide by November 2 whether to hear the appeal, a ruling that will determine whether the fines remain in force.