Third Court Rejects Request to Temporarily Block Governor Jay Inslee’s Vaccination Order

A court case in Spokane is now the latest to fail in blocking Governor Jay Inslee's COVID-19 vaccination order.

A federal judge has declined to temporarily prevent the order from being enforced, following a similar decision by federal court in Seattle and a state court in Olympia.

A group of firefighters and state troopers claimed the order violates their religious freedom, among other things.

The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice Monday denied their request, noting “the Supreme Court has long endorsed state and local government authority to impose compulsory vaccines.”

In his decision, Rice also said, "Here, the balancing of equities tips heavily in favor of the evidenced-backed decisions of the government regarding public health and safety measures, as compared to Plaintiffs’ personal beliefs and accommodation preferences."

 A Superior Court Judge in Olympia (Thurston County) turned back a challenge brought by Washington State Patrol and Department of Corrections on October 18 for similar reasons.

That decision came a day after U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein in Seattle declined a request to temporarily block the order in a lawsuit from a group of state employed workers.

Governor Inslee’s order for all state workers as well as health care and K-12 school employees to be fully vaccinated went into effect October 18.

New numbers from the Office of Financial Management show more than 94 percent of state workers are in compliance with Washington’s vaccination order.

About 3 percent of state workers have left their jobs or were fired for not complying with the order.