Supreme Court Decisions Today: Vaccine Mandates Take Center Stage

The United States Supreme Court has been at the forefront of deciding the fate of vaccine mandates, with two cases coming before the court on Friday. The cases, National Federation of Independent Business v. Department of Labor and Biden v. Missouri, centered on the vaccine-or-test mandate issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This mandate requires all employers with 100 or more employees to either ensure their workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide weekly testing and wear masks at work.

Representing business groups, lawyer Scott Keller warned that allowing the mandate to remain in place would result in 'a massive economic shift,' causing 'billions upon billions of non-recoverable costs' for businesses. The requirement affects roughly two-thirds of the private sector, making it a significant issue for employers and employees alike.

During oral arguments, several justices expressed skepticism about the administration's attempt to impose the vaccine-or-test mandate on workers at large employers. In contrast, the justices were more receptive to the administration's efforts to impose a similar mandate for health care workers at facilities that receive federal funding.

The unusual move of fast-tracking these cases was made possible by the Supreme Court's decision to hear them on an emergency basis last month. This allowed the justices to deliberate quickly and make a decision before the mandates expire or are lifted in lower courts.

The courtroom itself reflected the ongoing impact of COVID-19, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor participating remotely due to her lifelong diabetes and higher risk from the virus. Additionally, two lawyers participated by phone, marking the first time this has occurred since the court returned to in-person arguments. When all eight justices took their seats, only one justice, Neil Gorsuch, did not wear a mask.

As the Supreme Court continues to weigh the legality of these vaccine mandates, its decisions will have far-reaching implications for public health and individual freedoms. With the specter of COVID-19 looming over the courtroom, the court's deliberations are crucial in determining how we move forward in this ongoing pandemic.

Supreme court decisions today vaccine