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L.W. v. Skrmetti
What's at Stake
Samantha and Brian Williams of Nashville, TN and their 15-year-old transgender daughter are challenging a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for transgender people under 18. Tennessee is home to over 3,000 transgender adolescents and the health care banned by this law is supported by the entire mainstream of the medical community.
Summary
In April 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, Lambda Legal, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP sued the State of Tennessee to block the state’s ban on medically necessary gender-affirming care for Tennessee’s transgender youth.
The legal advocates are suing Tennessee on behalf of Samantha and Brian Williams of Nashville and their 15-year-old transgender daughter, two other plaintiff families filing anonymously, and Memphis-based medical doctor Dr. Susan Lacy.
In addition to banning best practice medical care for trans youth up to age 18, Public Chapter No. 1 would require trans youth currently receiving gender-affirming care to end that care within nine months of the law’s effective date of July 1, 2023, or by March 31, 2024. The law also establishes a private right of action against medical providers providing medically necessary care to trans youth.
“It was incredibly painful watching my child struggle before we were able to get her the life-saving healthcare she needed. We have a confident, happy daughter now, who is free to be herself and she is thriving,” said plaintiff Samantha Williams. “I am so afraid of what this law will mean for her. We don’t want to leave Tennessee, but this legislation would force us to either routinely leave our state to get our daughter the medical care she desperately needs or to uproot our entire lives and leave Tennessee altogether. No family should have to make this kind of choice.”
“I don’t even want to think about having to go back to the dark place I was in before I was able to come out and access the care that my doctors have prescribed for me,” said Samantha and Brian Williams’ daughter. “I want this law to be struck down so that I can continue to receive the care I need, in conversation with my parents and my doctors, and have the freedom to live my life and do the things I enjoy.”
Legal Documents
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11/06/2023
United States Petition for a Writ of Certiorari -
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11/06/2023
Appendix to United States Petition for a Writ of Certiorari -
02/02/2024
Respondent’s Brief in Opposition to United States Petition for a Writ of Certiorari -
02/20/2024
United States Reply in Support of Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAppendix to United States Petition for a Writ of CertiorariDate Filed: 11/06/2023
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsRespondent’s Brief in Opposition to United States Petition for a Writ of CertiorariDate Filed: 02/02/2024
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsUnited States Reply in Support of Petition for a Writ of CertiorariDate Filed: 02/20/2024
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
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11/06/2023
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11/01/2023
L.W. Petition for a Writ of Certiorari -
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02/02/2024
Respondent’s Brief in Opposition to L.W. Petition for a Writ of Certiorari -
02/16/2024
L.W. Reply in Support of Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsRespondent’s Brief in Opposition to L.W. Petition for a Writ of CertiorariDate Filed: 02/02/2024
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsL.W. Reply in Support of Petition for a Writ of CertiorariDate Filed: 02/16/2024
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Download Document -
02/02/2024
Date Filed: 11/06/2023
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Download DocumentDate Filed: 11/01/2023
Court: The Supreme Court of the United States
Download Document-
09/28/2023
Opinion -
08/17/2023
Reply Brief of Defendants-Appellants -
08/11/2023
Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellees -
08/11/2023
Brief of Intervenor-Appellee -
08/10/2023
Amicus Briefs in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees -
- Amicus Brief of Local Governments in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of American Academy of Pediatrics et al. in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of California and 19 Other States in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of Family Law and Constitutional Law Scholars in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of Biomedical Ethics and Public Health Scholars in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of Elliot Page et al. in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders et al. in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
- Amicus Brief of Foreign Non-Profit Organizations in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellees
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Local Governments in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of American Academy of Pediatrics et al. in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of California and 19 Other States in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Family Law and Constitutional Law Scholars in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Biomedical Ethics and Public Health Scholars in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Elliot Page et al. in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders et al. in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Foreign Non-Profit Organizations in Support of Plaintiffs-AppelleesDate Filed: 08/10/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
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07/24/2023
Brief of Defendants-Appellants -
07/08/2023
Opinion Staying District Court’s Preliminary Injunction Pending Appeal -
06/30/2023
Defendants-Appellants' Emergency Motion for Stay of Preliminary Injunction Pending Appeal -
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07/06/2023
Plaintiffs-Appellees' Response to Defendants-Appellants' Emergency Motion for Stay of Preliminary Injunction Pending Appeal -
07/06/2023
Defendants-Appellants' Reply in Support of Emergency Motion for Stay of Preliminary Injunction Pending Appeal
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsPlaintiffs-Appellees' Response to Defendants-Appellants' Emergency Motion for Stay of Preliminary Injunction Pending AppealDate Filed: 07/06/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDefendants-Appellants' Reply in Support of Emergency Motion for Stay of Preliminary Injunction Pending AppealDate Filed: 07/06/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download Document -
07/06/2023
Date Filed: 09/28/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/17/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/11/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/11/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 07/24/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 07/08/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 06/30/2023
Court: Appeals Court (6th Cir.)
Download Document-
06/28/2023
Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
06/01/2023
Expert Rebuttal Declarations in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
- Rebuttal Declaration of Dr. Deanna Adkins
- Rebuttal Declaration of Dr. Armand Antommaria
- Rebuttal Declaration of Dr. Aron Janssen
- Rebuttal Declaration of Dr. Jack Turban
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsRebuttal Declaration of Dr. Deanna AdkinsDate Filed: 06/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsRebuttal Declaration of Dr. Armand AntommariaDate Filed: 06/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsRebuttal Declaration of Dr. Aron JanssenDate Filed: 06/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsRebuttal Declaration of Dr. Jack TurbanDate Filed: 06/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
05/01/2023
Defendants' Motion to Reset Briefing Schedule -
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05/04/2023
Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Reset Briefing Schedule -
05/05/2023
Defendants' Reply in Support of Motion to Reset Briefing Schedule -
05/08/2023
Order Denying Motion to Reset Briefing Schedule
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsPlaintiffs' Response in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Reset Briefing ScheduleDate Filed: 05/04/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDefendants' Reply in Support of Motion to Reset Briefing ScheduleDate Filed: 05/05/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsOrder Denying Motion to Reset Briefing ScheduleDate Filed: 05/08/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
05/04/2023
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04/26/2023
Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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06/01/2023
Defendants' Response in Opposition to Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
06/12/2023
Plaintiff-Intervenor's Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDefendants' Response in Opposition to Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 06/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsPlaintiff-Intervenor's Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 06/12/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
06/01/2023
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04/26/2023
Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion to Intervene -
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05/04/2023
Defendants' Response to Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion to Intervene -
05/16/2023
Order Granting Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion to Intervene
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDefendants' Response to Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion to InterveneDate Filed: 05/04/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsOrder Granting Plaintiff-Intervenor's Motion to InterveneDate Filed: 05/16/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
05/04/2023
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04/26/2023
Plaintiff-Intervenor's Complaint in Intervention -
04/21/2023
Plaintiff Declarations in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
- Declaration of L.W.
- Declaration of Samantha Williams
- Declaration of John Doe
- Declaration of Jane Doe
- Declaration of Ryan Roe
- Declaration of Rebecca Roe
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of L.W.Date Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Samantha WilliamsDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of John DoeDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Jane DoeDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Ryan RoeDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Rebecca RoeDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
04/21/2023
Expert Declarations in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
- Declaration of Dr. Deanna Adkins
- Declaration of Dr. Armand Antommaria
- Declaration of Dr. Aron Janssen
- Declaration of Dr. Jack Turban
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Dr. Deanna AdkinsDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Dr. Armand AntommariaDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Dr. Aron JanssenDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDeclaration of Dr. Jack TurbanDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
04/21/2023
Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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05/19/2023
Defendants' Response in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
06/01/2023
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
L.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsDefendants' Response in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 05/19/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentL.W. v. SkrmettiLegal DocumentsPlaintiffs' Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary InjunctionDate Filed: 06/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download Document -
05/19/2023
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04/20/2023
Complaint
Date Filed: 06/28/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 05/01/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 04/26/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 04/26/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 04/26/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 04/21/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 04/20/2023
Court: District Court (M.D. Tenn.)
Download DocumentPress Releases
U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Challenge from United States, Families, and Doctors Against Transgender Health Care Ban
Tennessee Families and Doctors Urge Supreme Court to Block Ban on Essential Health Care for Transgender Youth
Federal Appeals Court Rejects Request to Block Tennessee Ban on Gender-Affirming Care
Families and Advocates Urge Appeals Court to Block Tennessee’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Health Care
Sixth Circuit Allows Tennessee’s Ban on Care for Transgender Youth to Take Effect
Federal Judge Blocks Tennessee’s Ban on Trans Youth’s Health Care