U.S. Supreme Court Allows States to Block Title IX Changes

The U.S. Supreme Court declined the Biden administration’s request to pause a federal court’s ruling that blocked a key provision of the new Title IX regulations for schools.

According to a decision made by Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the U.S. District Court in Eastern Kentucky, the rules will remain blocked for the time being. Reeves supported Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and five other GOP attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Title IX changes meant to safeguard transgender students.

An appeals court also upheld the decision to block the rules last month, with an appeal scheduled for October.

There is an expectation from the majority of justices that the appellate courts will decide promptly on this matter.

Another federal court ruling preventing implementation of the new Title IX regulations, brought by the Louisiana attorney general and three more GOP attorneys general, will also continue to stand.

Russell Coleman emphasized that they were defending equal opportunities for women and girls in Kentucky against the potential threats posed by the Biden administration’s policy changes.

Title IX pertains to sex-based discrimination within schools receiving federal funding.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona highlighted the importance of the new rules in providing safe and supportive environments for all students, in continuity with the spirit of Title IX.

The rules, initially set to take effect on August 1, aimed to reverse Trump-era policies on sexual harassment and conduct within schools.

Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia joined forces with Kentucky to contest the new Title IX directives.

The lawsuit argued that the changes would disrupt existing gender separation policies in sports, with Kentucky passing a law in 2022 requiring athletes to compete based on their biological sex.

Senator Robby Mills supported the Supreme Court’s decision, condemning what he sees as ideological influences shaping education policies at the federal level.

Mills stressed the preservation of Kentucky’s values and constitutional rights over what he termed “woke ideology.”

This post was updated with additional remarks on Saturday morning.