Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Wisconsin Transgender Student Policy

The court left in place lower rulings dismissing a lawsuit challenging a school district's gender identity support plan due to lack of legal standing.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Wisconsin parents challenging the Eau Claire Area School District's transgender support policy, which allows students to change names, pronouns, and use facilities matching their gender identity without parental consent.
Lower courts dismissed the case, ruling the parents lacked legal standing as they could not demonstrate the policy directly impacted their children.
Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented, with Alito calling the issue of parental rights in gender identity policies one of 'great and growing national importance.'
The school district argued the lawsuit mischaracterized its guidance, emphasizing that gender support plans are available to parents upon request and prioritize student safety and privacy.
This decision follows broader legal debates on transgender rights, including upcoming rulings on gender-affirming care bans and policies addressing transgender participation in sports.