Kavanaugh, Barrett reject appeal of Airman who refuses COVID shot

President Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joined the Supreme Court’s left flank in rejecting an emergency appeal from an Air Force Reserve officer who was punished for his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Dunn was appealing to the high court after the Air Force rejected his request for a religious exemption and removed him from command.

Dunn argues in his April 9 emergency appeal that he “acquired natural immunity to the disease” after contracting COVID-19 last summer. Further, he “has sincere religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The officer’s immunity argument is backed by more than 150 scientific studies showing naturally acquired immunity from contracting COVID-19 is equal to or superior to existing vaccines.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch said they would have granted the request to temporarily halt Dunn’s punishment while the case continued. – READ MORE