The Supreme Court Monday denied an Air Force Reserve officer’s request for a preliminary injunction shielding him from punishment for refusing to follow the military’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate, the latest blow to service members seeking vaccine exemptions on religious grounds.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Dunn requested April 11 that the court temporarily prevent the Air Force from discharging or otherwise punishing him because of his refusal to get vaccinated.
Dunn’s request for a religious exemption from vaccination was denied by the Air Force, like the overwhelming majority of other exemption applications, Dunn said.
Dunn said he had been removed from his command while the request for an injunction was pending, but that he did not seek to be reinstated to that position.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch were in favor of granting Dunn’s request for an injunction.