Idaho’s New Restroom Law Blocked by Federal Court

A new law in Idaho that would have criminalized the use of certain restrooms by individuals whose gender identity does not match their sex at birth has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. This development offers relief to transgender individuals in Idaho who could have faced up to five years in prison for using restrooms aligning with their gender identity. The law, noted as the nation’s strictest on this issue, was scheduled to take effect on July 1.

Six transgender residents of Idaho challenged the law, asserting that it violates their constitutional rights, particularly in terms of equal protection and privacy of personal information. However, Judge Amanda K. Brailsford of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho indicated that these issues need not be addressed immediately since the plaintiffs are likely to succeed based on another claim: that the law is unconstitutionally vague.

In her preliminary injunction, Judge Brailsford stated that the law likely violates the Constitution because it compels officers to make subjective judgments regarding a person’s biological sex, which brings about enforcement challenges. The law imposes criminal penalties, including felony charges for repeated offenses, yet leaves critical enforcement decisions to the discretion of individual officers. Judge Brailsford, appointed by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., underscored this point in her ruling.

This decision suspends part of the Idaho law while the court case continues. It permits transgender individuals to use single-stall restrooms that match their gender identity or multi-user restrooms if single-user facilities are occupied or unavailable on the same floor. The lawsuit does not contest the part of the law concerning locker rooms and showers.