Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – A Raleigh County Circuit Court Judge has set a hearing this week for a high-profile mandatory vaccine lawsuit that has the support of the governor.
Judge Michael Froble set the hearing for 10 a.m. Thursday, the 24. In the order, he said that the matter is urgent, given the approaching school year. Miranda Guzman, a Raleigh County mother, is suing both the Raleigh County and State Boards of Education over their mandatory vaccine policy.
The State Board of Education is instructing county boards of education not to honor philosophical exemptions to mandatory vaccines, citing state law that only permits medical exemptions. That’s at odds with an executive order signed by Governor Patrick Morrisey, who is supporting that lawsuit.
Morrisey says state and federal law protecting religious liberty require the state to offer religious exemptions. The legislature failed to enshrine that order into law in the last session. The Board of Education has said it is following the law as outlined by the West Virginia legislature.
We are closely following this story and will continue to provide updates.
