Judge doesn't halt Washington state House COVID policy
Original reporting: Judge allows Washington House COVID policy to take effect amid GOP lawsuit (Seattle Times)
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Source: Associated Press
Judge doesn’t halt Washington state House COVID policy
December 17, 2021
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A judge on Friday declined to halt a policy at the Washington Legislature requiring state representatives to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to be on the House floor.
Last month, half a dozen Republican House members and some state residents sued Democratic legislative leaders and House Chief Clerk Bernard Dean, the top nonpartisan administrator in that chamber.
The Seattle Times reports the lawsuit sought a preliminary injunction to halt the new COVID policy amid the legal challenge.
They contended the new House policy “unlawfully limits access to House facilities.” An attorney for the plaintiffs meanwhile argued Friday that the policy violates their First Amendment rights and other state and federal constitutional provisions.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-lawsuits-legislature-washington-83e856173d5be6a3148671618d3dbb29
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Source: Seattle Times
Judge allows Washington House COVID policy to take effect amid GOP lawsuit
Dec. 17, 2021 at 1:34 pm | Updated Dec. 17, 2021 at 1:34 pm
By Joseph O’Sullivan
Seattle Times staff reporter
OLYMPIA — A Thurston County judge on Friday declined to halt a policy at the Washington Legislature requiring state representatives to show proof of vaccination from COVID-19 in order to be on the House floor.
Last month, half a dozen Republican House members and some state residents sued Democratic legislative leaders and House Chief Clerk Bernard Dean, the top nonpartisan administrator in that chamber.
The lawsuit by GOP representatives — including Robert Sutherland of Granite Falls, Jim Walsh of Aberdeen, Jenny Graham of Spokane and Jesse Young of Gig Harbor — sought a preliminary injunction to halt the new COVID policy amid the legal challenge.
They contended the new House policy “unlawfully limits access to House facilities.” An attorney for the plaintiffs meanwhile argued Friday that the policy violates their First Amendment rights and other state and federal constitutional provisions.
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Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/judge-allows-washington-house-covid-policy-to-take-effect-amid-gop-lawsuit/
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