SCOTUS Declines to Hear Stockton Lawsuit over Doctors Penalized for Allegedly Spreading COVID-19 Misinformation
The justices declined to review the case, leaving Washington’s discipline of two doctors over COVID-19 statements intact.
- On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from NBA legend John Stockton challenging the Washington Medical Commission and Attorney General Nick Brown over COVID-19 speech discipline policies.
- Two physicians, including retired ophthalmologist Dr. Richard Eggleston and Thomas Siler, were sanctioned for 'unprofessional conduct' after publishing statements saying vaccines were unsafe, COVID-19 tests are inaccurate, and alternative treatments like ivermectin are effective.
- Stockton's lawyer argued 'The state has no legitimate interest in enforcing an unconstitutional program of viewpoint-based discipline against physicians,' while the Washington Attorney General's office maintained physicians risk disciplinary action for generating COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
- In April, the Washington Court of Appeals ruled the First Amendment prohibits sanctioning doctors based on COVID-19 treatment information published online, prompting the Commission to withdraw charges against both Eggleston and Siler.
- Broader constitutional questions about physician speech remain unaddressed, as the Ninth Circuit previously cited 'strong indicators that the claim is not ripe,' involving 'hypothetical, future prosecutions, largely against unnamed and unknown doctors.
18 Articles
18 Articles
DENIED — Supreme Court Ruling Sends Shockwaves Through Sports World
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Gonzaga and NBA legend John Stockton in his lawsuit against the Washington Medical Commission and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General over sanctions imposed on doctors for COVID-19-related misinformation. The case was among dozens the court declined to take up, offering no explanation for its decision, the Spokesman-Review reported on Tuesday. John Stockton, a critic of pande…
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear John Stockton’s case regarding COVID-19 sanctions
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear the case brought by NBA legend and Spokane native John Stockton over the sanctioning of Washington doctors over the COVID-19 vaccine. Stockton and others sued the state, saying it didn't have the right to sanction doctors who violated the Washington Medical Commission's COVID-19 misinformation policy. Stockton's
Supreme Court Declines to Block State From Investigating Doctors Who Question COVID Policies
The U.S. Supreme Court on May 4 declined to take up NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton’s petition arguing that Washington state regulators’ investigation and punishment of licensed physicians over COVID-19 treatment advice was unconstitutional. The court denied the petition in Stockton v. Brown in an unsigned order. No justices dissented. The court did not explain its decision. The petition was filed by Stockton, Children’s Health Defense, which is…
Supreme Court turns down COVID-19 vaccine case brought by John Stockton
The Supreme Court on Monday morning turned down a request from NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton to weigh in on whether his lawsuit against the Washington Medical Commission, arguing that the agency’s efforts to investigate and sanction licensed physicians in the state who discourage COVID-19 vaccination and promote treatments such as ivermectin violate the First Amendment, can go forward. The denial of review in Stockton v. Brown was part of a li…
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