Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21a145_gfbi.pdf
Page Number: 1.0

Cite as:  595 U. S. ____ (2021) 

1 

GORSUCH, J., dissenting 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 21A145 
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DR. A, ET AL., APPLICANTS v. KATHY HOCHUL, 
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, ET AL. 

ON APPLICATION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF 

[December 13, 2021] 

The application for injunctive relief presented to JUSTICE 

SOTOMAYOR and by her referred to the Court is denied. 

New  York  recently 

JUSTICE THOMAS would grant the application. 
JUSTICE GORSUCH, with whom JUSTICE ALITO joins, dis-
senting from the denial of application for injunctive relief. 
issued  a  regulation  requiring
healthcare workers to receive a COVID–19 vaccine.  Those 
who cite medical reasons are exempt.  But no comparable
exemption exists for individuals whose sincere religious be-
liefs prevent them from taking one of the currently availa-
ble vaccines.  It seems New York is one of just three States
to  have  a  scheme  like  this.  And  it  seems  originally  even 
New York was headed in a different direction.  When it an-
nounced the mandate, the then-Governor promised a reli-
gious  exemption.  Weeks  later,  the  State  backtracked.    It 
offered no scientific evidence, or even a written explanation,
for the decision.  But a new Governor who assumed office 
around the same time spoke about it.  The new Governor 
announced  that  the  decision  to  eliminate  the  exemption
was “intentiona[l]” and justified because no “organized reli-
gion” sought it and individuals who did were not “listening
to God and what God wants.”  Now, thousands of New York 
healthcare workers face the loss of their jobs and eligibility 
for unemployment benefits.  Twenty of them have filed suit