Rutledge issues statement on U.S. Supreme Court's decision to review the federal government's bathroom directive

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released a statement last week after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would hear arguments in Gloucester County School Bd. v. GG, a case out of Virginia that will determine if federal agencies may, without congressional approval, require public school systems to open gender-specific bathrooms and locker rooms to both sexes or threaten a loss of funding.

"I am grateful the U.S. Supreme Court has chosen to take this case that calls into question a very important issue of federalism and the rule of law," said Attorney General Rutledge. "I am confident the Court will affirm that federal agencies do not have the authority to unilaterally impose on states new obligations, especially our local school districts, or threaten states with the loss of millions in federal funding without the consent of Congress."

Rutledge filed a bi-partisan amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court last month urging the Court to take the case. The brief was led by West Virginia and also included the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and the Governors of Kentucky and North Carolina.

General News on 11/02/2016