Metropolitan School District of Martinsville v. A.C.
What's at Stake
Alongside his parents, A.C., a boy who was barred from using the boys’ restroom with the other boys because he is transgender, has sued his Indiana school district for violating his right under federal law to attend school.
Summary
A.C. is a transgender boy who attended a middle school within the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, Indiana, who was barred from using the boys’ restrooms with other boys.
Starting in 2021, A.C. was required to use either the girls’ restrooms or the single-person restroom in the nurse’s office, which was far from his classes.
Representing both A.C. and his parents, the ACLU of Indiana sued the school district and challenged these policies under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments. Federal courts have consistently held that excluding transgender students from restrooms consistent with their gender identity violates Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause.
In an August 2023 opinion, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals found that the school district failed to provide A.C. with access to restroom consistent with his gender in violation of his rights under Title IX, the law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs, and the Equal Protection Clause. This follows a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that discrimination against transgender workers by employers is a violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits sex discrimination in employment.
The school district filed a petition for review by the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2023 and the ACLU of Indiana filed an opposition brief in December 2023.
Legal Documents
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12/29/2023
Petitioner's Reply Brief -
12/19/2023
Respondent's Reply Brief in Opposition -
10/11/2023
Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
Date Filed: 12/29/2023
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 12/19/2023
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 10/11/2023
Court: Supreme Court
Affiliate: Indiana
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08/01/2023
Opinion -
11/02/2023
Reply Brief of Appellants -
10/11/2022
Brief of Appellees -
09/12/2022
Brief of Appellants and Short Appendix -
08/02/2022
Amicus Briefs in Support of Appellees -
- Amicus Brief of Medical, Mental Health, and Other Health Care Organizations in Support of Appellee
- Amicus Brief of Anti-Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Gender-Based Violence Organizations in Support of Appellee
- Amicus Brief of Indiana Youth Group & GLSEN in Support of Appellee
- Amicus Brief of School Administrators from Sixteen States and the District of Columbia in Support of Appellee
- Amicus Brief of State of Connecticut, State of Colorado, State of California, State of Washington State of New York, et al. in Support of Appellee
Metropolitan School District of Martinsville v. A.C.Legal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Medical, Mental Health, and Other Health Care Organizations in Support of AppelleeDate Filed: 08/02/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Metropolitan School District of Martinsville v. A.C.Legal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Anti-Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Gender-Based Violence Organizations in Support of AppelleeDate Filed: 08/02/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Metropolitan School District of Martinsville v. A.C.Legal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Indiana Youth Group & GLSEN in Support of AppelleeDate Filed: 08/02/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Metropolitan School District of Martinsville v. A.C.Legal DocumentsAmicus Brief of School Administrators from Sixteen States and the District of Columbia in Support of AppelleeDate Filed: 08/02/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Metropolitan School District of Martinsville v. A.C.Legal DocumentsAmicus Brief of State of Connecticut, State of Colorado, State of California, State of Washington State of New York, et al. in Support of AppelleeDate Filed: 08/02/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
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07/26/2022
Brief of Appellee and Supplemental Appendix -
06/13/2022
Brief of Appellants and Short Appendix
Date Filed: 08/01/2023
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 11/02/2023
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 10/11/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 09/12/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 07/26/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 06/13/2022
Court: Appeals Court (7th Cir.)
Affiliate: Indiana
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04/29/2022
Order Granting Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
12/03/2021
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief and Damages
Date Filed: 04/29/2022
Court: District Court (S.D. Ind.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Date Filed: 12/03/2021
Court: District Court (S.D. Ind.)
Affiliate: Indiana
Press Releases
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Title IX Victory for Transgender Rights