A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit appeared inclined Wednesday to reverse a lower court order that blocked New York state from enforcing a vaccine mandate against health care professionals who claim a religious exemption.

The panel, which included two appointees of Democratic presidents and one Republican appointee, expressed skepticism during oral arguments that the mandate had violated plaintiffs’ rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution by not allowing them to opt out due to their religious beliefs.