Objection to Proposed Class Settlement — U.S. Navy SEALs 1-26 v. Biden (Dkt. 289)

Summary

A letter dated July 9, 2024 to the Clerk's Office of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, filed 07/15/24 as Document 289 in Case 4:21-cv-01236-O, from Aaron D. Pickett, Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve. Its subject line is objections to the proposed class settlement in U.S. Navy SEALs 1-26 v. Biden. The letter states that the proposed settlement falls far short of making members whole and does not deter future violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment. It also states that the writer does not intend to appear at the Fairness Hearing.

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Case 4:21-cv-01236-O Document 289 Filed 07/15/24 Pageiof2 PagelD 8183

206 Edgewood Dr NORTEL BN OF :
Richland, WA 99352 sete |
July 9, 2024 CLERK, US. a PY COURT |
Clerk’s Office _ a |
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Fort Worth Division

501 West 10" Street, Room 310

Fort Worth, Texas 76102-3673

ATTN: U.S. Navy SEALs 1-26 v. Biden, Case No: 4:21-cv-01236, Objections to Proposed Class
Settlement

Dear U.S. District Court Clerk:

As a member of this class, I am writing in opposition to the proposed settlement agreement. While the
proposed settlement seeks to address some of the administrative harms suffered by class members, it falls
far short of making members whole. Of more lasting significance, it fails to uphold the legal, ethical, and
professional standards of military leadership and does not deter future violations of the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Under these medical mandates, members who expressed sincere, faith-based objections were subjected to
segregation, discrimination, and harassment by their leaders and peers. They were denied professional
opportunities and career progression that cannot be remediated by simple administrative corrections.
Furthermore, untold numbers of service members were dissuaded from exercising their lawful rights by
threats of these retaliations. Many of our comrades were thereby coerced into actions they believed to be
wrong and/or dangerous, suffering moral and sometimes physical injury from the mandated procedures.

As a leader in our armed forces, I have been trained to accept responsibility for wrong actions, seek
mitigations and preventions for such actions, and teach those that I lead to do the same. This proposed
settlement avoids responsibility for wrongdoing, does not correct underlying issues, and fails to establish
legal precedents and policy standards for future military and government leadership. For my part, I cannot
accept the proposed settlement as an adequate response to the magnitude of wrongs that it should address.
As leaders entrusted with supporting and defending the Constitution, we must do better.

I do not intend to appear at the Fairness Hearing for this settlement agreement. If there are further
questions, I can be reached at aaron.d.pickett3.mil@us.navy.mil.

Very respectfully yours,

AARON D. PICKETT
Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve


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