Over 100 Chicago firefighters and city employees filed an emergency request to halt a vaccine mandate put in place by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker. However, the request confused the judge.

Final Ruling Soon

In the federal complaint, 130 firefighters and paramedics are requesting that U.S. District Judge John Lee issue a temporary restraining order stopping Chicago from making its workers report their vaccination status or be put on no-pay status. In addition to firefighters and paramedics, the suit also includes those in health care and state employees.

In the 45-minute hearing, done via videoconference, Lee wanted to know why attorney Jonathon Lubin was arguing that vaccination status is a constitutional issue.

“I look puzzled because I am puzzled. Because don’t we have to disclose medical information for all sorts of different jobs? Why is this any different?”

Judge John Lee

Though Lubin attempted to argue the "political nature" of the vaccine itself could not be separated from the legal side, the judge cut him off at the knees. Lee said, "I don't care about the political. This is a court of law."

Lee said Lubin had two days to give him responses, and then he would be ready to rule on Friday. The restraining order would be a huge ask, though, and would be a rather lofty precedent to set when there is no case law to back it.