Human Rights

Patient awarded $2M by jury in malpractice suit over gender-care surgery

In a legal first, a jury in New York has awarded $2 million in damages to a patient who received gender-affirming surgery as a minor.

Feb 4, 2026 9:24 AM CST

Supreme Court considers challenges to laws banning transgender participation in sports

Becky Pepper-Jackson was assigned male at birth but began transitioning to a female gender identity in third grade. Her West Virginia school district has been sympathetic, providing a gender support plan that among other things respects her chosen name and pronouns.

Jan 8, 2026 10:54 AM CST

Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to landmark gay marriage ruling

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider a challenge to its landmark 2015 decision recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

Nov 10, 2025 9:38 AM CST

Supreme Court allows Trump to end policy of self-identifying gender on passports

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to end for now a policy under which people can self-identify their gender on passports, the latest in a string of decisions by the high court rolling back gay and transgender rights.

Nov 7, 2025 9:17 AM CST

Federal judge’s decision tossing youths’ climate lawsuit had ‘silver lining’

A federal judge had some good news for 22 youths in his Oct. 15 decision dismissing their lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s executive orders promoting fossil fuels.

Oct 21, 2025 9:25 AM CDT

Supreme Court sharply questions law banning conversion therapy

The Supreme Court sounded deeply skeptical Tuesday about a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for gay and transgender minors, suggesting the justices may scuttle the statute and similar restrictions in nearly 30 states.

Oct 7, 2025 1:28 PM CDT

Sexual harassment suit against Polsinelli continues, without arbitration, after judge’s ruling

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has refused to toss claims or to compel arbitration in a $20 million lawsuit alleging that Polsinelli retaliated against an international corporate attorney after she reported sexual harassment by two influential partners.

Sep 24, 2025 9:22 AM CDT

Justice in Action: With ABA support, Colombia drafts a declaration of judicial ethics

For several years, the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative implemented programs in Colombia to improve the capacity of judges and court personnel, combat human trafficking cases and public corruption, strengthen judicial practice in rural areas, further migrant integration and citizen security, and support environmental defenders in the Amazon region. These programs were funded by the United States government through its Department of State.

Sep 10, 2025 9:08 AM CDT

Approaching retirement age? Go back to law school—in a different country

Maybe you can identify with this. You are at the socially acceptable retirement age. Very few people, especially in your age group, understand why you are still working. “Are you retired yet?” “Oh, I’m sorry.” “You can’t take it with you!” “Before long, it will be gone, gone, gone!”

Sep 10, 2025 9:01 AM CDT

Can you bring a service dog to court?

“Service animals are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all spaces run by state and local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations where the general public can go,” according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. But if the service animal isn’t specifically designated for the person appearing before a federal judge, is the animal still allowed?

Aug 28, 2025 2:16 PM CDT

First Amendment likely protects student drag show at West Texas A&M, 5th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled for an LGBTQ+ student group and two of its leaders who contended that their First Amendment rights were violated when officials at West Texas A&M University canceled a charity drag performance show on campus.

Aug 21, 2025 11:04 AM CDT

Lawyer for ABA, foreign-aid recipients tells DC Circuit US must spend appropriated ‘pots of money’

Congress in 2024 “appropriated very specific pots of money for foreign assistance purposes” and required the executive branch to spend the full amount, a lawyer representing the ABA and other groups challenging funding cutoffs told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Monday.

Jul 8, 2025 1:35 PM CDT

SCOTUS will allow Trump to deport migrants to ‘third countries’ for now

The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the Trump administration to deport immigrants to countries where they are not citizens, temporarily blocking a decision by a lower court judge who said migrants must have a “meaningful opportunity” to contest their removal.

Jun 23, 2025 4:41 PM CDT

Barrett belies claims of leftward drift as Supreme Court upholds ban on some medical treatments for trans minors

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Wednesday that Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Jun 18, 2025 10:04 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS takes on multiple challenges to executive orders from Trump administration

The first four months of Donald Trump’s second term as president have been unlike anything in American history with the issuance of a large number of executive orders, many of which are of dubious constitutionality and legality.

Jun 4, 2025 12:13 PM CDT