Children's Rights

In ‘monumental moment,’ Montana Supreme Court rules for youths claiming right to clean environment

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a state law banning consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in fossil-fuel-permitting decisions, citing a state constitutional provision that guarantees a “clean and healthful environment.”

Dec 19, 2024 9:01 AM CST

Tween’s parents can’t sue video chat service for child porn and sex trafficking, 11th Circuit rules

Parents who alleged that their 11-year-old daughter was tricked and threatened into making child pornography can’t sue an online service that randomly places people into video chat rooms, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Dec 16, 2024 12:00 PM CST

Top Montana court allows gender-affirming care for trans minors during litigation, citing privacy protections

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday cited state constitutional privacy protections when it upheld a judge’s decision to block a law that bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Dec 12, 2024 11:52 AM CST

Lawyers spar in Supreme Court over constitutional rights in transgender health care case

The lengthy arguments this week in United States v. Skrmetti—a major case about whether a Tennessee law barring certain medical treatments for transgender minors violates the 14th Amendment—were marked by past positions, anticipation of future battles, a historical first and one justice’s curious silence.

Dec 5, 2024 2:15 PM CST

Idaho can enforce ban on aid to minors who leave state for abortions, with one exception, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has blocked just one provision of Idaho’s abortion-trafficking law that bans aid to minors getting abortions.

Dec 3, 2024 10:15 AM CST

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS considers law prohibiting gender-affirming care—case of constitutionality, deep cultural division

The culture wars come to the Supreme Court Dec. 4 when it hears oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, which involves the constitutionality of a Tennessee law that prohibits gender affirming care for transgender youths. Twenty-six states have adopted such laws. An estimated 118,000 transgender teenagers, about 40% of transgender youths, live in states with bans on gender-affirming care.

Nov 27, 2024 8:45 AM CST

Judge with ‘highly antagonistic demeanor’ must be removed from foster care case, 5th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has removed a federal judge from foster care litigation against the state of Texas, citing her “highly antagonistic demeanor” against the defendants during a December 2023 contempt hearing.

Oct 15, 2024 8:37 AM CDT

Judge who oversaw handcuffing of sleepy teen on field trip now hearing these cases

A Detroit judge sued for allegedly making an example of a sleepy teenager on a courtroom field trip is back on the bench, but he no longer presides in preliminary stages of serious criminal cases.

Oct 2, 2024 8:57 AM CDT

9th Circuit allows 2 transgender girls to play on sports teams that align with their gender identity

A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that two transgender girls in Arizona should be allowed to play on school sports teams that are consistent with their gender identity.

Sep 12, 2024 11:07 AM CDT

Tennessee law denies transgender youths equal access to medical care, ABA says

Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, the ABA has argued in an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sep 3, 2024 2:00 PM CDT

Guardians ad litem have absolute immunity in suit alleging wrongful conduct, appeals court says

Lawyers representing a child as guardians ad litem are absolutely immune for acts happening within their court-appointed duties, even for acts alleged to be “wrongful and illegal,” a federal appeals court has ruled.

Aug 12, 2024 9:16 AM CDT

Police shouldn’t lie to minors during questioning, ABA House says

At the ABA Annual Meeting on Monday, the House of Delegates considered a resolution that addresses police questioning of minors.

Aug 5, 2024 7:01 PM CDT

DOJ sues nonprofit that houses migrant children, accusing staff of sexual abuse

The country’s largest private provider of housing for unaccompanied immigrant children subjected some in its care to pervasive sexual abuse and harassment for almost a decade, the U.S. Justice Department is alleging in a lawsuit.

Jul 19, 2024 9:10 AM CDT

Ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors will be reviewed by Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to review the constitutionality of a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming surgeries, puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors.

Jun 24, 2024 12:23 PM CDT

Federal judge reprimanded for handcuffing teen spectator in scared-straight approach

A federal judge who ordered a defendant’s daughter handcuffed to warn her about the consequences of drug use has been reprimanded by the judicial council of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco.

May 2, 2024 10:58 AM CDT