A Port Orchard woman who worked for Kitsap County District Court for nearly 30 years was fired last month for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, claiming it would violate her religious beliefs and endanger her health.
Tammy Duryea, 58, was officially terminated on Nov. 19 from her position as a fiscal technician II after District Court officials rejected her appeal for an exemption and found there was no reasonable way to accommodate her. She started work with the office in July 1994 and believes she is the only county employee to be fired for refusing the vaccine. Duryea and her attorney said they are prepared to file a lawsuit over the matter.
“It was heartless, they didn’t try to work with me at all,” Duryea said, adding later that in the lead-up to her dismissal she didn’t think the court would actually fire her. “It was brutal. It was an absolute shock."
Though Kitsap County does not have a policy requiring all employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, judges in the county’s courts mandated vaccines for employees. That includes District Court — including judges, support staff and clerks — and Superior Court judges and administrative employees. Superior Court clerks, who do not have a mandate, answer to the elected clerk and are considered a separate branch of government from the courts.
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