Massachusetts Kansas Courts Revive COVID Vaccine Religious Exemption Cases

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Rachelle Jeune, a surgical technician fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious beliefs, can pursue her religious discrimination claim against UMass Memorial Health Care. The court found that Jeune's beliefs, including viewing her body as a temple of God, could be considered sincerely held religious beliefs and that the employer failed to prove that accommodating her beliefs would cause undue hardship. Meanwhile, the Kansas Supreme Court sided with Katlin Keeran, who lost a job offer after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, holding that a state law prohibiting employers from questioning the sincerity of religious beliefs supersedes federal law allowing such inquiries. The Kansas court emphasized the state's interest in protecting religious liberty and reversed a lower court ruling that had found the state law unconstitutional. Both rulings highlight ongoing legal support for individuals claiming religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination mandates, balancing employer policies and religious freedom protections.