Lawsuit Against Gov Inslee’s Vaccination Order Hits State Court Monday After Federal Court Declined to Block Mandate

A state lawsuit to block Governor Jay Inslee's vaccination order gets going Monday, after a similar case in federal court failed Friday.

Court News Service reports a federal judge in Seattle declined a request to temporarily block the order in a lawsuit from a group of state employed workers.

The federal judge has asked for another hearing in her court after the state court in Olympia decides whether or not to temporarily block the order.

Governor Inslee's order for state employees, educators and health care workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 goes into effect today.

The federal judge - U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein – agreed with the state’s argument that Inslee’s order has been effective and allows fired employees to sue for monetary damages.

Court News Service reports the judge also said Inslee was well within his emergency powers granted by the legislature, and that employee concerns are with the lack of accommodations on an individual basis.

Judge Rothstein has asked for another hearing within 21 days.

The federal case was filed by a group of 100 state workers, including state troopers, prison officers and ferry workers.

The group had argued that the public would be harmed by resignations in critical areas such as hospitals and fire departments.

It also claimed the mandate was biased against religious expression and discriminated against people with medical reasons to decline the vaccination.

The group’s lawsuit also argued the mandate should be blocked because state’s goal of 93% vaccination for state employees will probably be reached next week, after the level was under 50% in early September.

The state lawsuit makes similar claims to the federal lawsuit. It was originally filed in Walla Walla, but was successfully moved to Olympia by Governor Inslee’s administration.