Unvaccinated Illinois Mother’s Rights To See Son Restored By Judge Who Barred It In The First Place

The same judge who barred an Illinois mother from seeing her son because she was unvaccinated has reversed his ruling, but did not clarify whether vaccination will remain a problem for the mother.

Cook County Judge James Shapiro withdrew Rebecca Firlit’s rights to see her 11-year-old son on Aug. 10 after learning that Firlit was not vaccinated against COVID-19, but the judge reversed the decision Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Speaking to the outlet, Firlit said she’s “had adverse reactions to vaccines in the past and was advised not to get vaccinated by my doctor” as it “poses a risk.”

Firlit said she asked Shapiro what her vaccination status had to do with her hearing, which was supposed to focus on child support and other expenses related to her child, but Shapiro allegedly told Firlit that “I am the judge, and I make the decisions for your case.” Firlit said Shapiro’s earlier ruling of stripping her from custody rights was “wrong.” She said “it’s not in my son’s best interest to be away from his mother,” FOX-owned WFLD reported.

Firlit’s legal representative, Annette Fernholz, said Shapiro was “very much exceeding his judicial authority” in the case. Shapiro reportedly did not explain why he reversed the ruling and also did not clarify if Firlit’s vaccination status will affect her case in the future.

Firlit’s former husband Matthew Duiven's lawyer told WGN-TV that Duiven, who is vaccinated, will fight against Firlit’s appeal to see her child. Jeffrey Leving said Duiven’s party wants to “make sure the child is safe and if she thinks she needs not to take the vaccine for whatever reason, then we think that the child should not be physically with her until she takes the vaccine.”

Fernholz said that while Firlit is very happy to see her child, she is also “anxious” about how Duiven and his lawyer will move following Shapiro’s ruling reversal. WGN noted that at this point, Leving is looking to file an emergency motion that should suspend Firlit’s parenting time as Duiven wants Firlit to only see their child through Zoom calls.

This is not the first time Shapiro raised the issue of COVID-19 vaccination in child support cases, the Sun-Times reported. In a video from late July, Shapiro can be heard asking Edward Hambrick if he’s been vaccinated. Hambrick was also involved in a child support case.