A federal judge in Georgia on Tuesday blocked the only remaining vaccine mandate issued by President Joe Biden’s administration.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Stan Baker (pictured above, left) will halt a provision that required contractors working with the federal government to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
The suit was filed by officials in Georgia, Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, Utah, South Carolina, and West Virginia. It alleges the mandate is unconstitutional because it violates the Tenth Amendment, which reserves certain powers to the states and the people.
“Abuse of power by the Biden administration has been stopped cold again. The rule of law has prevailed and liberty is protected. When the President oversteps his authority the law is thankfully there to halt his misuse of power,” said South Carolina Attorney General Wilson.
The ruling stops the requirement, which would have mandated the shot by January 18, while the lawsuit makes its way through the judicial system.
“The Court acknowledges the tragic toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought throughout the nation and the globe,” Baker wrote in the opinion that stopped the mandate. “However, even in times of crisis this Court must preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the bounds of their constitutionally granted authorities.”
Throughout the country, multiple mandates have halted vaccine provisions implemented by the Biden administration.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit paused a mandate that would have required all companies with 100 employees or more to mandate the vaccine. Recently, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp stopped the requirement for healthcare workers in 10 different states.
“We will continue to stand up for the rule of law to protect our state and our citizens from this unconstitutional and unprecedented federal overreach,” added Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
We will continue to stand up for the rule of law to protect our state and our citizens from this unconstitutional and unprecedented federal overreach. For updated information on each of our lawsuits, visit our website ➡️ https://t.co/qas5754CNX
— GA AG Chris Carr (@Georgia_AG) December 7, 2021
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Joe Biden” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
