Overview
- Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble issued a permanent injunction allowing students with religious objections to attend school and participate in activities despite vaccination requirements.
- The West Virginia Board of Education suspended its compulsory‑vaccination policy and said it will seek review by the state Supreme Court.
- The lawsuit, brought by parents after a previously granted exemption was rescinded, was certified as a class action covering 570 families and future applicants.
- The court held that barring religious exemptions violates the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act and rejected arguments that only the Legislature can authorize such exemptions.
- The ruling follows the board’s earlier directive to ignore Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order permitting religious exemptions, and the judge said the limited number of exemptions would not meaningfully reduce vaccination rates or increase health risks.