ACLU
Federal appeals court dismisses Arkansas redistricting lawsuit
A federal appeals panel on Monday affirmed a lower court’s ruling and dismissed a case challenging Arkansas’ state redistricting map, asserting that only the United States attorney general can enforce the Voting Rights Act. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that private individuals can’t sue under Section 2 of […]
Governors risk NCAA ramifications with opposition to transgender policy, scholar says
Governors criticizing an NCAA policy on transgender student athletes may put their universities at risk of “penalties or ramifications” if those institutions disobey the policy, according to a sports law scholar. Joshua Lens is an assistant professor of recreation and sport management at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, who wrote an article on NCAA transgender […]
Full appeals court will hear Arkansas AG’s request to reverse ruling on transgender care for minors
The full 11-member 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Friday to hear Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s appeal of a federal judge’s ruling that struck down the state’s ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. Act 626 of 2021, known as the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, prohibited physicians from providing “gender […]
Arkansas AG Griffin asks full appeals court to reverse ruling on transgender care for minors
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on Thursday asked the full 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis to hear his appeal of a federal judge’s ruling that struck down the state’s ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. Act 626 of 2021, known as the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, prohibited […]
Arkansas ACLU files amicus brief in social media age verification suit
The ACLU of Arkansas on Friday filed a proposed amicus brief in a federal lawsuit challenging a new state law that requires social media platforms to verify new users’ ages. NetChoice, a tech trade group whose members include Meta (Facebook), Twitter and TikTok, filed a federal lawsuit in June that argues Act 689 of 2023 […]
Appeals court temporarily reinstates Tennessee ban on transgender youth care
A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated Tennessee’s law barring gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, allowing a recently enacted ban on treatments that include puberty blockers and surgery to take immediate effect. In a divided opinion, the three-judge panel of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to reverse a Nashville federal […]
Federal judge blocks ban on gender-affirming care for Kentucky’s trans kids
A federal judge sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Wednesday, temporarily blocking a section of a recently-passed state law that seeks to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. In his ruling, Judge David J. Hale said, “Based on the evidence submitted, the Court finds that the treatments barred by SB 150 […]
Federal judge strikes down Arkansas ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth
A federal judge struck down Arkansas’ ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth Tuesday, nearly two years after blocking it from going into effect. Act 626 of 2021, known as the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, prohibited physicians from providing “gender transition” treatments like hormones, puberty blockers and surgeries to those under age […]
Plaintiffs hope SCOTUS decision in Alabama case bodes well for Arkansas redistricting lawsuits
Attorneys representing those who have challenged Arkansas’ state and federal redistricting plans believe a pair of Thursday U.S. Supreme Court decisions could breathe new life into their lawsuits against the state. The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, noting that Thursday decisions by the […]
GOP-led states plan new voter data systems to replace one they rejected. Good luck with that.
So far this year, seven states, all Republican-led, have left the Electronic Registration Information Center, an interstate compact for sharing voter registration data, and more could follow. Amid the exodus, some states, including Texas and Virginia, have said they plan to create their own data-sharing networks to replace ERIC. Pledging to build a new system […]
Wave of transgender health care bans has roots in past debates
In the past two years, 19 states have banned or restricted gender-affirming care for minors, and another 12 states are considering it — a tidal wave of policy change that has emboldened many Republicans on the far right while terrifying transgender youth and their families. Gender-affirming care for transgender patients can cover pediatrics, psychiatry and […]
Arkansas families describe living where lawmakers are hostile to their transgender children
Parker Saxton, 18, sings tenor in his high school choir and enjoys drawing. Sabrina Jennen, 17, also enjoys drawing and is considering a nursing career. Dylan Brandt, 17, works at a hardware store and is the manager of his high school’s cheerleading team. Brooke Dennis will be 11 this month and looks forward to playing […]