Children’s Health Defense Chairman Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Files an Appeal in the 3rd Circuit Challenging Rutgers University’s Vaccine Mandate

Washington, D.C. — On Jan. 10, attorneys for Children’s Health Defense (CHD) filed an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit challenging the New Jersey District Court judge’s Sep. 22, 2022 dismissal of CHD’s Aug. 16, 2021 lawsuit against Rutgers and university officials for their COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students to attend classes, whether in person or remotely. The mandate that began at the start of the 2021 Fall semester now requires full vaccination and boosters for students, faculty and staff.

The appeal seeks a finding that the district court erred by misapplying the applicable standard of review to students’ due process and equal protection challenges. It also seeks to show that the court failed to accept the Plaintiffs’ allegations as true, as it must on a motion to dismiss. Appellants also contest the court’s decision that students with religious exemptions lacked standing, finding that their claims were moot.