Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/21a90_6j37.pdf
Page Number: 4

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

3 

GORSUCH, J., dissenting 

emptions are available, but only if they invoke certain pre-
ferred (nonreligious) justifications.  Under Maine law, em-
ployees  can  avoid  the  vaccine  mandate  if  they  produce  a 
“written statement” from a doctor or other care provider in-
dicating  that  immunization  “may  be”  medically  inadvisa-
ble.  Me. Rev. Stat. Ann., Tit. 22, §802(4–B) (2021).  Nothing 
in Maine’s law requires this note to contain an explanation
why vaccination may be medically inadvisable, nor does the
law limit what may qualify as a valid “medical” reason to
avoid inoculation.  So while COVID–19 vaccines have Food 
and Drug Administration labels describing certain contra-
indications for their use, individuals in Maine may refuse a 
vaccine for other reasons too.  From all this, it seems Maine 
will respect even mere trepidation over vaccination as suf-
ficient, but only so long as it is phrased in medical and not
religious terms.  That kind of double standard is enough to 
trigger at least a more searching (strict scrutiny) review.

Strict scrutiny applies to Maine’s vaccine mandate for an-
other related reason.  This Court has explained that a law 
is not neutral and generally applicable if it treats “any com-
parable secular activity more favorably than religious exer-
cise.”  Tandon v. Newsom, 593 U. S. ___, ___ (2021) (per cu-
riam) (slip op., at 1); see also Fulton, 593 U. S., at ___ (slip 
op., at 6); Lukumi, 508 U. S., at 542–546.  And again, this
description applies to Maine’s rule.  The State allows those 
invoking medical reasons to avoid the vaccine mandate on 
the apparent premise that these individuals can take alter-
native measures (such as the use of protective gear and reg-
ular  testing)  to  safeguard  their  patients  and  co-workers. 
But the State refuses to allow those invoking religious rea-
sons to do the very same thing. 

Unpack this point further.  Maine has offered four justi-

fications for its vaccination mandate: 

(1)  Protecting  individual  patients  from  contracting

COVID–19;