U.S. SUPREME COURT PASSES ON TRANSGENDER STUDENT BATHROOM DISPUTE
On January 16, 2024, the United States Supreme Court declined to review a Seventh Circuit case ruling in favor of a transgender student and his family challenging a restroom policy at an Indiana public school district. This means that the decision of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals finding that the school district’s policy violated the student’s rights under Title IX remains the law within the Seventh Circuit, which includes school districts and charter schools in the State of Illinois.
In A.C. v. Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, 75 F.4th 760 (7th Cir. 2023), a transgender boy brought a lawsuit against the school district and his school's principal. He sought unspecified money damages and a court order to be allowed to use bathrooms for males. According to the lawsuit, A.C. was diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition involving distress resulting from a discrepancy between a person's gender identity and sex at birth and, he was in the process of having his name and gender legally changed on his birth certificate.
The Court of Appeals considered that A.C.’s presence behind the door of a bathroom stall did not threaten student privacy. It determined that A.C.’s claims were meritorious and granted him an injunction permitting him to use the boys’ bathroom. Considering the Supreme Court’s decision not to review this matter, the decision of the case remains the law.
If you have questions about any student issues in your school, please contact one of our attorneys.