Supreme Court Won’t Hear Challenge to State Mask Mandate

The Supreme Court again rejected an opportunity to hear arguments in a lawsuit that sought to challenge Maine’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The Supreme Court had already rejected the Maine challengers in October, when, over three dissents, the justices refused to intervene on an emergency basis. Maine is one of three states, along with New York and Rhode Island, that require vaccination of healthcare workers and allow exemptions only for medical reasons. Although the Supreme Court has limited the federal government’s power to require COVID-19 shots or tests, the justices have allowed state and local mandates, even without religious exemptions. The court left in force New York’s requirement in December.