(Tampa Free Press)—The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California will hear oral arguments today in Chino Valley Unified School District v. Newsom, a pivotal case challenging legislation that bans parental notification policies in schools statewide.
Liberty Justice Center Senior Counsel Emily Rae will present arguments opposing Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The case centers around Assembly Bill 1955 (AB 1955), signed into law earlier this year, which prohibits schools from notifying parents if their children request to be referred to by different names, pronouns, or to access facilities and programs inconsistent with their gender at birth.
Proposed by Superintendent Thurmond alongside the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, AB 1955 seeks to prohibit parental notification policies in California schools.
Critics, including the Liberty Justice Center, argue that the law violates fundamental constitutional rights, including the First and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The Liberty Justice Center filed its lawsuit on July 16, immediately after the bill was signed into law, seeking injunctive and declaratory relief to block its implementation.
“This case is about defending parents’ rights to be informed and involved in their children’s lives,” said Emily Rae, Senior Counsel at Liberty Justice Center. “AB 1955 undermines parental authority and violates core constitutional protections. We are committed to ensuring that schools cannot override the fundamental rights of parents.”
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for parental rights and school policies not just in California but across the nation.