Boise, Idaho—Yesterday afternoon, federal district court Judge Nye ruled that a transgender athlete’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Idaho’s law—HB 500—is not moot, meaning the case may proceed while the law remains blocked. HB 500 targets student athletes who are transgender and many who are intersex. The law has been blocked from being enforced by Judge Nye’s previous ruling in this case.
“I love running, and part of what I enjoy about the sport is competing and building relationships with a team. I’m a girl and the right place for me is on the girls’ team,” said Boise State University athlete Lindsay Hecox. “It means a lot to me that Judge Nye agrees that I have done all the things I need to do to have a chance to compete.”
“We’re heartened by this decision from the federal court acknowledging the need to continue to block this legislation—legislation that has harmed not only Lindsay but all women and girls in Idaho,” said Aadika Singh, legal director of the ACLU of Idaho.
"Lindsay has worked hard as a student at Boise State and to train for the women's teams,” said Catherine West, an attorney with Legal Voice. “Legal Voice is proud of Lindsay and honored to represent her as this case moves forward"
The lawsuit, called Hecox v. Little, was brought on behalf of Lindsay Hecox, a student at Boise State University who is transgender, currently plays on the women’s club soccer team, and intends to try out for the women’s track and cross-country teams this fall. Without the federal court injunction that is currently in place, Hecox would not be able to continue on the soccer team or compete for a spot on the track or cross-county teams. The Court yesterday found that Hecox can continue to further litigate her claims in court while the law remains blocked. The lawsuit will now return to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
View the Order on Mootness Issue here.
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Idaho, Legal Voice, and Cooley LLP.
