SRFR firefighters who sued agency trying to get judgment re-reviewed in Ninth Circuit Court

Eight firefighters are appealing a ruling from the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a lower court's decision in their religious discrimination lawsuit against Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue (SRFR). The firefighters declined the COVID-19 vaccine for religious reasons and allege that SRFR failed to provide reasonable accommodations for their exemption requests. A U. S. District Court ruled in favor of SRFR, citing legal liabilities associated with unvaccinated personnel.

The firefighters' attorneys have filed for an en banc review, arguing that their case meets the criteria for such a hearing due to its national significance regarding religious freedom. They reference the recent Supreme Court ruling in Groff v. DeJoy, which established standards for assessing the burden of accommodating religious requests. If the Ninth Circuit denies the en banc appeal, the attorneys intend to escalate the case to the Supreme Court. The firefighters seek back pay for the time they were sidelined and argue that the Ninth Circuit's ruling could set a precedent allowing employers to discriminate against religious workers without accountability.

This case highlights tensions surrounding vaccine mandates and religious rights in the workplace.