Coast Guard Settles in Religious Liberty Lawsuit over COVID-19 Mandate with Guest Nathan Loyd 5/7/26

In this episode of the Napa Legal Podcast, Frank DeVito is joined by Nathan Loyd, staff counsel at the Thomas More Society and a former active-duty member of the Air Force, to discuss a recent settlement with the US Coast Guard that will protect the religious freedom of servicemembers across the country.During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Coast Guard refused to provide religious exemptions from vaccine mandates. Elite servicemembers were denied promotion and cut out of key responsibilities for their religious objections to the mandate. A Class of officers and enlisted coast guardsmen, with the help of attorneys from the Thomas More Society, recently settled a major lawsuit with the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard agreed to follow federal regulations that protect religious liberty in the future.Key Moments:0:50 Introduction1:43 Nathan's work at the Thomas More Society4:07 The basics of the Covid-19 Vaccine mandates in the Coast Guard5:20 This case - Jackson v. Mullin and the servicemembers who brought it.10:39 Relevant research on the Covid-19 vaccines12:07 The legal standard for religious exemptions, particularly in the military. 15:56 Other similar cases and applying the legal standards in other circumstances. 16:55 The outcome of this case - a favorable settlement for the servicemembers.22:18 Voluntary cessation in civil litigation28:13 Servicemembers' responses to this settlement32:25 Why this case is being settled today rather than years ago 37:43 Other parts of Nathan's work - sidewalk counselling and free speech. For more of the Napa Legal Podcast, visit our website here:https://www.napalegalinstitute.org/the-napa-legal-podcastTo learn more about Napa Legal and our work, visit us at our website:https://www.napalegalinstitute.orgThe Napa Legal Podcast, May 14, 2026