Federal Court Rules “Catholic Hospital” Owned by University of Maryland Medical Systems Can’t Refuse Gender-Affirming Surgery for Transgender Patients

Consolidation in the health care industry has resulted in some odd situations, as shown by a federal court ruling on January 6 that a “Catholic Hospital” that appears to be owned by a state university system must comply with the anti-discrimination requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which the court concluded requires the hospital to perform hysterectomies for transgender men seeking the operation for purposes of gender transition, because it performs hysterectomies for cisgender … <Read More>


9th Circuit Panel Orders Gender Confirmation Surgery for Transgender Inmate in Idaho

A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled on August 23 that the Idaho Department of Corrections violated the 8th Amendment rights of Adree Edmo, a transgender inmate, when it denied her gender confirmation surgery.  The court’s opinion, issued collectively by the three judges as “per curiam,” provides such an extensive discussion of the medical and legal issues that it could serve as a textbook … <Read More>


Federal Court Rules for “Unique” Family in Fair Housing Act Case

A federal district judge in Colorado granted summary judgment under the Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) on April 5 to a couple in a “unique relationship” who were turned down by a landlord who had two residential properties available for rent that would have met the needs of the couple and their family. Judge Raymond P. Moore found that in turning down two woman (one of whom is transgender) who are married to each other … <Read More>


4th Circuit Revives Transgender Teen’s Title IX Claim Against Virginia School Board

A three-judge panel of the Richmond-based U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 on April 19 that U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar erred by not deferring to the U.S. Department of Education’s interpretation of its regulations to require schools to let transgender students use restrooms consistent with their gender identity.  Judge Doumar had dismissed a claim by G.G., a teenage transgender boy attending high school in Gloucester County, Virginia, that the school … <Read More>


NYLS Impact Center Salon on Transgender Issues

The New York Law School Impact Center is presenting a Salon on Transgender Issue on Tuesday, September 29.  I am participating together with attorneys M. Dru Levasseur of Lambda Legal and Ezra Young.  I prepared a case table on transgender law for distribution at the event and am sharing it here:

Selected Legal Decisions on Transgender Issues

Prepared by Arthur Leonard for NLYS Impact Center Salon, September 29, 2015.

Criminal Law:

City of Chicago v. … <Read More>