Background
We the Patriots USA, Inc. challenged Connecticut's Public Act 21-6, which eliminated religious exemptions for mandatory school vaccinations. The plaintiffs filed an eight-count lawsuit against the Connecticut Department of Education, asserting violations of state constitutional rights including free exercise of religion, equal protection, and the right to education.Legal Question
Whether Connecticut's sovereign immunity doctrine bars claims challenging the repeal of religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements, and whether statutory religious liberty protections provide an avenue for relief when constitutional claims are barred.Holding
Judge Rosen dismissed seven of eight counts, ruling that sovereign immunity and binding precedent from Spillane v. Lamont prevented plaintiffs from pursuing state constitutional claims for free exercise, equal protection, and educational rights violations. However, the court allowed Count Three to proceed, finding that Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571b—the state's religious freedom protection statute—provided a valid claim. The court determined that the legislature implicitly waived sovereign immunity for religious liberty claims brought under this specific statute, distinguishing statutory claims from constitutional ones.Significance
This decision illustrates the complex interplay between sovereign immunity doctrine and religious liberty protections in state courts. While broadly affirming that states retain significant immunity from constitutional challenges to their education policies, the ruling suggests that specific statutory religious freedom protections may offer alternative pathways for religious liberty claims. The case demonstrates how state legislatures can create enforceable religious liberty rights through statute even when constitutional avenues are foreclosed, potentially encouraging similar legislative protections in other states.Key Statutes & Provisions
- Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571b (state religious freedom protection statute)
- Connecticut Public Act 21-6 (law repealing religious exemptions for school vaccinations)
- Connecticut Constitution (free exercise, equal protection, and education provisions—though dismissed)
- Connecticut sovereign immunity doctrine
- Spillane v. Lamont precedent
Official Documents
No official documents found yet.
We the Patriots USA, Inc. v. State of Connecticut Department of Education (HHD-CV-22-6152413-S) is a Education case decided by the State Appellate Court in 2025. The court held that the court dismissed state constitutional claims based on sovereign immunity but allowed a statutory religious liberty claim under Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571b to proceed against vaccine mandate repeal.
## Background
We the Patriots USA, Inc. challenged Connecticut’s Public Act 21-6, which eliminated religious exemptions for mandatory school vaccinations. The plaintiffs filed an eight-count lawsuit against the Connecticut Department of Education, asserting violations of state constitutional rights including free exercise of religion, equal protection, and the right to education.
## Legal Question
Whether Connecticut’s sovereign immunity doctrine bars claims challenging the repeal of religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements, and whether statutory religious liberty protections provide an avenue for relief when constitutional claims are barred.
## Holding
Judge Rosen dismissed seven of eight counts, ruling that sovereign immunity and binding precedent from Spillane v. Lamont prevented plaintiffs from pursuing state constitutional claims for free exercise, equal protection, and educational rights violations. However, the court allowed Count Three to proceed, finding that Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571b—the state’s religious freedom protection statute—provided a valid claim. The court determined that the legislature implicitly waived sovereign immunity for religious liberty claims brought under this specific statute, distinguishing statutory claims from constitutional ones.
## Significance
This decision illustrates the complex interplay between sovereign immunity doctrine and religious liberty protections in state courts. While broadly affirming that states retain significant immunity from constitutional challenges to their education policies, the ruling suggests that specific statutory religious freedom protections may offer alternative pathways for religious liberty claims. The case demonstrates how state legislatures can create enforceable religious liberty rights through statute even when constitutional avenues are foreclosed, potentially encouraging similar legislative protections in other states.
## Key Statutes & Provisions
– Connecticut General Statutes § 52-571b (state religious freedom protection statute)
– Connecticut Public Act 21-6 (law repealing religious exemptions for school vaccinations)
– Connecticut Constitution (free exercise, equal protection, and education provisions—though dismissed)
– Connecticut sovereign immunity doctrine
– Spillane v. Lamont precedent
**Note:** Specific details about the factual background and the precise scope of the religious freedom statute’s protections are not provided in the available information, so this synopsis focuses on the procedural and legal framework established by the court’s ruling.