Amish families ask Supreme Court to revisit New York school vaccine law

Amish schools and parents are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a challenge to New York's 2019 removal of religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements. The petition argues the policy conflicts with their religious-liberty and parental-rights protections.

The challenge was returned to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after the Supreme Court directed that court to consider a recent decision involving parents' rights to guide their children's religious upbringing. The appeals court again ruled for New York, prompting the Amish plaintiffs to seek another review by the high court.

The petition also asks the Supreme Court to reconsider a 1990 decision concerning religious exemptions and laws that are neutral and generally applicable. New York has said the exemption was removed after a measles outbreak clustered around New York City; the petition says there was no evidence that cases occurred in Amish communities.