Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Declines Review of High-Profile First-Amendment, Second-Amendment, and COVID-19 Vaccine Cases
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Decisions and Their Immediate Effect
In early October 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued an order list denying certiorari in several notable disputes. The Court left in place lower-court rulings on
- a Michigan public-school ban of “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirts,
- a challenge to the federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, and
- two cases concerning religious-accommodation challenges to COVID-19 vaccine mandates for firefighters and health-care workers.
By refusing review, the justices preserved the appellate courts’ judgments without comment.
Background to the Disputes
“Let’s Go Brandon” Sweatshirt Controversy
In 2022, two middle-school students in Howard City, Michigan, wore “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirts and were ordered to remove them as the phrase was deemed vulgar. A federal district court dismissed their First-Amendment claim, and the Sixth Circuit affirmed, emphasizing deference to school officials over vulgar speech. The students petitioned the Supreme Court in March, arguing the ruling threatened free expression for students.
Felon-Gun Rights Challenge
The Court’s June 18 decision in *United States v. Hemani* held that a law barring “habitual” drug users from gun ownership violated the Second Amendment, but did not address broader felon-in-possession statutes. The Court then declined to hear *United States v. Hembree*, where a methamphetamine convict argued the federal ban on felons possessing firearms lacked historical justification. The Fifth Circuit had ruled in his favor; the denial leaves that ruling intact.
COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Cases
Two petitions sought Supreme Court review of lower-court rulings on religious-accommodation claims. In *Petersen v. Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue*, eight Washington firefighters argued that the department’s refusal to exempt them from a COVID-19 vaccine mandate imposed an “undue hardship” under the *Groff v. DeJoy* standard. The Ninth Circuit upheld the department’s decision, citing health-safety costs.
A second petition, *Roberts v. Ferguson*, involved former Shriners Hospitals employees who claimed the state-mandated vaccine requirement violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The Ninth Circuit dismissed the case, and the Supreme Court’s denial left that dismissal standing.
Official Statements & Responses
The Supreme Court’s order list, released after the justices’ private conference, simply noted denial of review in each case without substantive commentary. The United States Solicitor General was asked to submit views on unrelated matters, but no explanation was provided for the denials.
Data & Statistics
- The Court denied review in “hundreds of cases” during the October order list, including the three highlighted disputes.
- The Sixth Circuit upheld the school district’s ban; the Fifth Circuit favored Hembree; the Ninth Circuit upheld the fire department’s vaccine-mandate stance.
Why It Matters
The denials maintain the status quo on three constitutional fronts:
- Student speech – Schools retain authority to prohibit vulgar political expression.
- Gun rights for felons – The Fifth Circuit’s interpretation that the Second Amendment does not automatically protect non-violent felons from firearm prohibitions remains unreviewed.
- Religious accommodation and public-health mandates – Courts continue to allow employers, including fire departments, to deny vaccine exemptions when they demonstrate a substantial concern of undue hardship.