17 Republican state attorneys general filed a fresh court filing Thursday to explain their stance in a case that aims to overturn a portion of a federal law that protects handicapped people from discrimination, amid public outrage over the possible loss of disability protections.
The case was filed in September and focuses on the Biden administration’s decision to include a gender identity-related condition among the impairments covered by Section 504 of federal law.
In a combined status report submitted to a U.S. District Court in Texas, the AGs made it clear that they do not want the case to deny people with disabilities their Section 504 accommodations.
Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson of South Carolina stated in a statement Thursday that “this court filing confirms what we’ve been saying all along, which is that there was never any intention to take away 504 accommodations.”
Conflicting statements about what the lawsuit will do have caused the AGs to confront increasing public outrage in recent weeks.
Parts of the complaint in which the AGs ask the court to declare Section 504 unlawful in its entirety have been cited by national disability rights organizations, advocates, and academics. They worry that the law’s provisions against discrimination for all those with disabilities may be eliminated if the court concurs.
In recent weeks, Republican attorneys general Tim Griffin of Arkansas, Chris Carr of Georgia, and others have made public statements strongly disputing that view. According to Griffin, regulations would revert to their pre-addition of the gender identity-related condition if the states prevail in the lawsuit.
According to the current joint status report, the plaintiffs make it clear that they have never filed a motion to proclaim or enjoin Section 504 as unconstitutional on its face and have no plans to do so.
Right now, the lawsuit is on hold. Shortly after President Donald Trump took office, the parties to the case decided to put the case on hold while his administration reassesses the federal government’s stance. In an email to Stateline, a Carr representative stated that they anticipate the Trump administration to overturn the Biden rule, perhaps leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.