A divorced Chicago-area mother has completely lost her parental rights because she hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Rebecca Firlit said the Cook County judge stripped her of her parental rights during a Zoom court hearing involving her 11-year-old son. “ … out of the blue, Cook County Judge James Shapiro asked her whether she had been vaccinated,” Fox 32 Chicago reported. “Firlit told Shapiro she had not because she has had bad reactions to vaccines in the past,” but apparently that made no difference to the judge.

While the two parents originally had joint custody and parenting time, Judge James Shapiro took all contact with her son away, including phone and video calls, until she gets vaccinated.

Ferlit is appealing the judge’s decision. “You have to understand the father did not even bring this issue before the court. So it’s the judge on his own and making this decision that you can’t see your child until you’re vaccinated,” Ferlit’s attorney, Annette Fernholz said.

While the father’s attorney, Jeffrey Leving, said they were surprised by the judge’s edict, they agreed with it. Leving also said he “believes the judge is breaking new ground that could now play out in other custody cases.”

SOURCE: Fox 32 Chicago August 29, 2021