The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Wisconsin parents who challenged a school district’s guidance for supporting transgender students, originating from Eau Claire.
The appellate ruling dismissing the parents’ lawsuit was left in place by the Supreme Court, with three justices – Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas – intending to hear the case, one short of the requirement for full review.
Driving the news: Parents in Eau Claire public schools sued, claiming the district’s policy violated their constitutional parental rights and religious freedom protections.
- Sixteen Republican-led states supported the parents’ case and urged the Supreme Court to take it up.
- Lower courts ruled that the parents lacked the legal right or standing to challenge the policy, citing the absence of evidence showing how the policy directly affected them or their children.
- The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, with a unanimous three-judge panel that included two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump during his first term, upheld the previous rulings.
The big picture: Justice Alito viewed the case as addressing a significant national issue, questioning whether public school districts infringe on parents’ rights by supporting students’ gender transitions without parental consent or knowledge.
