IDAHO — The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Idaho’s law restricting transgender women and girls from competing on female school sports teams, allowing the state’s 2020 policy to remain in place after years of legal challenges.
The ruling comes from consolidated cases involving Idaho and West Virginia and centers on whether such restrictions violate federal civil rights protections or the Constitution’s equal protection clause. Idaho’s law was the first of its kind in the nation when it passed in 2020 and was challenged after a transgender woman sought to compete in women’s track and cross-country at Boise State University.
WATCH: Both sides react as SCOTUS decision upholds Idaho ban on trans athletes in girls sports
Attorneys for transgender student-athletes criticized the ruling, calling it harmful and saying it limits equal access to school sports opportunities.
"The decision we got today is a very disappointing result for transgender girls who just want the same opportunities to participate in school sports that cisgender girls have," ACLU senior counsel Josh Block said.
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The plaintiff's attorneys in the case addressed the media at 10 a.m. Watch the full press conference below —
However, advocates are emphasizing this ruling doesn't equate to an all out ban on transgender athletes, but rather leaves it up to individual states to outline their own standards.
"This ruling says that, 'sure, a state may discriminate,' not that 'they must discriminate,'" Sasha Buchert with Lambda Legal said. "Athletic associations should be taking every step to ensure that athletic opportunities exist for transgender girls."
President Trump is praising the decision that was a central issue in his 2024 campaign, writing that the ruling "takes that ridiculous situation off the table!"
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said the decision reinforces the state’s approach to school athletics.
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“Today’s decision is a victory for common sense, fairness, and the countless girls and women who dedicate themselves to athletics,” Labrador said. “Idaho led the nation by becoming the first state to protect women’s sports, and I’ve never wavered in defending that law... Every parent can rest assured that our law protects their daughters competing in Idaho.”
Labrador posted a photo online with Republican Representative Barbara Ehardt of Idaho Falls, touting that Idaho led the nation by becoming the first state to protect women's sports. Ehardt tells Idaho News 6 she was expecting the ruling in her favor.
"This has been very gratifying," Ehardt told Idaho News 6. "Girls and women's sports are for girls and women, and that's how I want to keep it."
Ehardt has been outspoken about her experiences as a female basketball coach and athlete and lead the legislation now known as Idaho's Fairness in Women's Sports Act.
We asked Ehardt if she feels transgender athletes should get their time on the court.
"Now, if those in that class would like to, you know, really push to have, you know, their own games, I'll be incredibly supportive," Ehardt said. "But just like with the Special Olympics, they have to be behind that. They have to want that, they have to push for that, but I'm absolutely certainly happy to help with that."
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