Ninth Circuit takes on major religious accommodation case from Snohomish firefighters

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear a local religious accommodations case that could have far-reaching impacts in the workplace.

Petersen et al. v. Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue involves eight Washington firefighters placed on indefinite suspension after requesting religious exemptions from their department’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The fire department claimed that allowing unvaccinated firefighters to work would have caused undue hardship, but the firefighters argue that their safety record proves otherwise.

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This decision could set a precedent for how religious accommodation cases are handled, particularly in the context of vaccine mandates. It could also set up the issue to be heard by the United States Supreme Court.

“This case is about ensuring that employees are not forced to choose between their religious beliefs and their jobs,” the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. “The Ninth Circuit’s decision will have far-reaching implications for religious liberty in the workplace.”

Attorney Jennifer Kennedy, representing the firefighters, will argue that the district court’s dismissal of the case failed to uphold the Supreme Court’s strengthened standard for religious accommodation.

“Employers must provide hard evidence of actual cost to business operations, not just speculative risks,” she stated in a release.

Oral arguments are scheduled for April 3, 2025, at the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland.

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