Question Presented (AI Summary)
Whether Title IX prevents a state from consistently designating girls' and boys' sports teams based on biological sex determined at birth
Question Presented (from Petition)
QUESTIONS PRESENTED Like everywhere else, West Virginia schools offer separate sports teams for boys and girls. The West Virginia Legislature concluded that biological boys should compete on boys’ and co-ed teams but not girls’ teams. This separation made sense, the Legislature found, because of the “inherent physical differences between biological males and biological females.” A parent sued on behalf of her child, B.P.J., arguing that the State must allow biological boys who identify as girls to compete on girls’ teams. After extensive discovery, the district court disagreed, entering summary judgment for the State on claims under the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX. Yet a divided Fourth Circuit panel granted an injunction pending appeal. B.P.J. then beat and displaced hundreds of girls in track and field. Ultimately, the same divided panel ruled in B.P.J.’s favor on the Title IX claim and vacated the district court’s judgment for the defendants on the equal-protection claim. Judge Agee dissented, criticizing the majority for “inappropriately expand[ing] the scope of the Equal Protection Clause and upend[ing] the essence of Title IX.” App.44a. He hoped this Court would “take the opportunity with all deliberate speed to resolve these questions of national importance.” App.74a The questions presented are: 1. Whether Title IX prevents a state from consistently designating girls’ and boys’ sports teams based on biological sex determined at birth. Il 2. Whether the Equal Protection Clause prevents a state from offering separate boys’ and girls’ sports teams based on biological sex determined at birth.
Docket Entries
2026-01-13
Argued. For petitioners: Michael R. Williams, Solicitor General, Charleston, W. Va.; and Hashim M. Mooppan, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: Joshua A. Block, New York, N. Y.
2025-12-15
Sealed material received electronically from the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The remainder of the record is electronic and is available on PACER.
2025-12-10
Reply of West Virginia, et al. submitted.
2025-12-10
Reply of petitioners West Virginia, et al. filed. (Distributed).
2025-11-24
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
2025-11-21
Amicus brief of National Women's Law Center submitted.
2025-11-21
Amicus brief of Professors Joanna Harper, Philip Chilibeck, and Carol Ewing Graber submitted.
2025-11-19
Amicus brief of Professors Joanna Harper, Philip Chilibeck, and Carol Ewing Graber submitted.
2025-11-18
Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
2025-11-18
Amicus brief of American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Practicing Pediatric Endocrinologists and Pediatricians submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Public Justice submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Organization of American Historians, the LGBTQ+ History Association, and Historian Scholars submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Constitutional Accountability Center submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Advocates for Girls' and Women's Rights submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and National Center for LGBTQ Rights submitted.
2025-11-17
Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Law And History Scholars submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Information Society Project at Yale Law School submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of The Transgender Law Center, Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network, and PFLAG, Inc. submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of National Education Association submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Federal Jurisdiction Scholars submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Members of Congress submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Professor William N. Eskridge Jr. submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Professors of Constitutional Law submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Scholars of Equal Opportunity and Antidiscrimination Law submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of National Women's Law Center submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Equal Protection Scholars submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Andraya Yearwood submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Andrew Flores submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Professors Joanna Harper, Philip Chilibeck, and Carol Ewing Graber submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Constitutional Law Scholars in Support of Respondents submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Professional, Olympic, and International Athletes in Women’s Sports submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of National Fair Housing Alliance submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of California Women’s Law Center submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of Coaches, Teammates, Competitors, and Allies of Transgender Athletes submitted.
2025-11-17
Amicus brief of States of New York, Hawai‘i, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia submitted.
2025-11-17
Brief amicus curiae of Andrew Flores filed.
2025-11-17
Brief amicus curiae of National Fair Housing Alliance filed.
2025-11-17
Brief amici curiae of Organization of American Historians, et al. filed.
2025-11-17
Brief amicus curiae of California Women’s Law Center filed.
2025-11-17
Brief amicus curiae of National Education Association filed.
2025-11-17
Brief amicus curiae of Public Justice filed.
2025-11-17
Brief amicus curiae of Professor William N. Eskridge, Jr. filed.
2025-11-14
Brief amici curiae of Title IX Scholars filed.
2025-11-12
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
2025-11-10
Brief of B.P.J., by her next friend and mother, Heather Jackson submitted.
2025-11-10
Brief of respondent B.P.J., by her next friend and mother, Heather Jackson filed.
2025-10-28
Motion of United States for leave to participate in oral argument and for divided argument submitted.
2025-10-28
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
2025-10-01
Amicus brief of Emma Hilton PhD and the International Consortium on Female Sport submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Pennsylvania School Board Directors submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Do No Harm submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Brief of Professors Richard J. Auchus, David J. Handelsman, Sandra K. Hunter, Michael J. Joyner, Benjamin D. Levine, and Virginia M. Miller submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Empowered Community Coalition, UA submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Doctors of Sports Medicine submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of 48 Members of the Congress submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of President of the Arizona State Senate Warren Petersen and Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Steve Montenegro submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of American Association of Christian Schools, et al. submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Women's Liberation Front submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Business Leaders submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, et al. submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of U.S. House of Representatives submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Interested Sports Physiologists submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Mountain States Legal Foundation submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Sport Scientists submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Parents Defending Education submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of The American Civil Rights Project submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Center for American Liberty submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of John Adams Academies, Chino Valley Unified School District, Temecula Valley Unified School District, Murrieta Valley Unified School District, Perris Union High School District, Placer Union High School District, Kern County Board of Education, and Orange County Board of Education submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of New Civil Liberties Alliance submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of United States submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Six High School Athletes submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate Kelly Anthon and Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives Mike Moyle submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of True Blue Sapphires, Inc. submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of America's Future, Public Advocate of the United States, Public Advocate Foundation, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Defense Fund, One Nation Under God Foundation, and Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of International Consortium On Female Sport submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Emma Hilton PhD and the International Consortium on Female Sport submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Independent Council On Women's Sport submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Equal Protection Project submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Riley Gaines and 32 College Athletes submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Reem Alsalem United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, its Causes and Consequences submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Female Athletes United, Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, and Alanna Smith submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Independent Women's Law Center submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of The American College of Pediatricians submitted.
2025-09-19
Amicus brief of Sex Matters submitted.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of 96 West Virginia Legislators filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of Female Athletes United, et al. filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of Advancing American Freedom, et al. filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of President of the Arizona State Senate Warren Petersen, et al. filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of The American Civil Rights Project filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of John Adams Academies, et al. filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of State of Arkansas, et al. filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of Equal Protection Project filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of The American College of Pediatricians filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of Independent Women's Law Center filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of Empowered Community Coalition, et al. filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of Mountain States Legal Foundation filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of U.S. House of Representatives filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amicus curiae of New Civil Liberties Alliance filed.
2025-09-19
Brief amici curiae of L. V., et al. filed.
2025-09-18
Amicus brief of Dr. Daniel Kodsi, Mr. John Maier, Prof. Robert George and 21 Other Philosophers submitted.
2025-09-18
Amicus brief of America First Legal Foundation submitted.
2025-09-18
Amicus brief of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted.
2025-09-18
Amicus brief of Dr. Mark Regnerus submitted.
2025-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of America First Legal Foundation filed.
2025-09-18
Brief amicus curiae of Dr. Mark Regnerus filed.
2025-09-17
Amicus brief of Liberty Counsel submitted.
2025-09-17
Amicus brief of Women’s Declaration International USA submitted.
2025-09-17
Amicus brief of A.C., a minor, by her next friend and mother Abigail Cross submitted.
2025-09-17
Brief amici curiae of A.C., a minor, et al. filed.
2025-09-17
Brief amicus curiae of Liberty Counsel filed.
2025-09-17
Brief amicus curiae of A.C., a minor, by her next friend and mother Abigail Cross filed.
2025-09-15
Amicus brief of NC Values Institute submitted.
2025-09-15
Brief amici curiae of Dr. Brent Ellis, et al. filed.
2025-09-15
Brief amicus curiae of NC Values Institute filed.
2025-09-12
Brief of West Virginia, et al. submitted.
2025-09-12
Joint Appendix submitted.
2025-09-12
Brief of petitioners West Virginia, et al. filed.
2025-09-12
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
2025-09-12
Joint appendix (10 volumes and 1 supplemental) filed. (Statement of costs filed)
2025-07-22
Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
2025-07-22
Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 12, 2025. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including November 10, 2025.
2025-07-03
Petition GRANTED.
2025-06-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/26/2025.
2025-06-23
Supplemental Brief of West Virginia, et al. submitted.
2025-06-23
Supplemental brief of petitioners West Virginia, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2024-11-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/22/2024.
2024-10-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/15/2024.
2024-10-29
Reply of petitioners West Virginia, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2024-10-15
Brief of respondent B.P.J., by her next friend and mother, Heather Jackson in opposition filed.
2024-08-15
Amicus brief of America First Legal Foundation submitted.
2024-08-15
Amicus brief of Billy Burleigh, KathyGrace Duncan, Laura Perry Smalts, and Jane Smith submitted.
2024-08-15
Amicus brief of Parents Defending Education submitted.
2024-08-15
Amicus brief of America's Future, Public Advocate of the United States, Eagle Forum, Eagle Forum Foundation, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Cons. Women, Leadership Institute, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Def. Fund, Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation, One Nation Under God Foundation, and Conservative Legal Def. and Education Fund submitted.
2024-08-15
Brief amici curiae of Billy Burleigh, et al. filed.
2024-08-15
Amicus brief of The American Civil Rights Project submitted.
2024-08-15
Brief amici curiae of Advancing American Freedom, et al. filed.
2024-08-15
Brief amici curiae of Concerned Women for America and Samaritan’s Purse filed.
2024-08-15
Brief amicus curiae of Parents Defending Education filed.
2024-08-15
Brief amicus curiae of America First Legal Foundation filed.
2024-08-15
Brief amici curiae of America's Future, et al. filed.
2024-08-15
Brief amici curiae of A.C. a minor, by her next friend and mother Abigail Cross filed.
2024-08-14
Amicus brief of Empowered Community Coalition, UA submitted.
2024-08-14
Amicus brief of International Consortium On Female Sport submitted.
2024-08-14
Amicus brief of Independent Council On Women's Sport submitted.
2024-08-14
Amicus brief of Do No Harm submitted.
2024-08-14
Amicus brief of States of Arkansas, Alabama, and 24 Other States submitted.
2024-08-14
Amicus brief of Business Leaders submitted.
2024-08-14
Brief amicus curiae of Empowered Community Coalition, UA filed.
2024-08-14
Brief amici curiae of Arkansas, et al. filed.
2024-08-14
Brief amici curiae of Five Female Olympic Rowers filed.
2024-08-14
Brief amici curiae of 102 Female Athletes, et al. filed.
2024-08-14
Brief amicus curiae of Do No Harm(Aug. 22, 2024) filed.
2024-08-14
Brief amicus curiae of Do No Harm (Aug. 22, 2024) filed.
2024-08-13
Amicus brief of NC Values Institute submitted.
2024-08-13
Brief amicus curiae of NC Values Institute filed.
2024-08-12
Amicus brief of 35 ATHLETIC OFFICIALS AND COACHES OF FEMALE ATHLETES submitted.
2024-08-12
Brief amici curiae of Dr. Brent Ellis, President Spring Arbor University and the Wagner Center filed.
2024-08-05
Waiver of West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission of right to respond submitted.
2024-08-05
Waiver of right of respondent West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission to respond filed.
2024-07-31
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 15, 2024.
2024-07-30
Motion of B.P.J., by her next friend and mother, Heather Jackson for an extension of time submitted.
2024-07-30
Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 15, 2024 to October 14, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-07-11
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 15, 2024)
Attorneys
35 Athletic Officials and Coaches of Female Athletes
35 ATHLETIC OFFICIALS AND COACHES OF FEMALE ATHLETES
35 Athletic Officials and Coaches of Female Athletes
48 Members of the Congress
96 West Virginia Legislators
A.C. a minor, by her next friend and mother Abigail Cross
A.C., a minor, by her next friend and mother Abigail Cross
Advancing American Freedom
Advocates for Girls' and Women's Rights
America First Legal Foundation
America's Future, Public Advocate of the United States, Eagle Forum, Eagle Forum Foundation, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Cons. Women, Leadership Institute, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Def. Fund, Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation, One Nation Under God Fo
America's Future, Public Advocate of the United States, Public Advocate Foundation, Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Defense Fund, One Nation Under God Foundation, and Conservative Legal Defense and Educati
American Association of Christian Schools, et al.
American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
B.P.J., by her next friend and mother, Heather Jackson
Billy Burleigh, KathyGrace Duncan, Laura Perry Smalts, and Jane Smith
Brief of Professors Richard J. Auchus, David J. Handelsman, Sandra K. Hunter, Michael J. Joyner, Benjamin D. Levine, and Virginia M. Miller
California Women’s Law Center
Center for American Liberty
Coaches, Teammates, Competitors, and Allies of Transgender Athletes
Concerned Women for America and Samaritan’s Purse
Constitutional Accountability Center
Constitutional Law Scholars in Support of Respondents
Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies
Doctors of Sports Medicine
Dr. Brent Ellis, President Spring Arbor University and the Wagner Center
Dr. Daniel Kodsi, Mr. John Maier, Prof. Robert George and 21 Other Philosophers
Emma Hilton PhD and the International Consortium on Female Sport
Empowered Community Coalition, UA
Equal Protection Scholars
Federal Jurisdiction Scholars
Female Athletes United, Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, and Alanna Smith
Five Female Olympic Rowers
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and National Center for LGBTQ Rights
Harrison County Board of Education and Dora Stutler
Harrison County Board of Education and Dora Stutler, in her capacity as Harrison County Superintendent
Independent Council On Women's Sport
Independent Women's Law Center
Information Society Project at Yale Law School
Interested Sports Physiologists
International Consortium On Female Sport
John Adams Academies, Chino Valley Unified School District, Temecula Valley Unified School District, Murrieta Valley Unified School District, Perris Union High School District, Placer Union High School District, Kern County Board of Education, and Orange
L.V., J.S., S.P., and Empowered Community Coalition, UA
Mountain States Legal Foundation
National Education Association
National Fair Housing Alliance
National Women's Law Center
New Civil Liberties Alliance
Organization of American Historians, the LGBTQ+ History Association, and Historian Scholars
Parents Defending Education
Pennsylvania School Board Directors
Practicing Pediatric Endocrinologists and Pediatricians
President of the Arizona State Senate Warren Petersen and Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Steve Montenegro
President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate Kelly Anthon and Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives Mike Moyle
Professional, Olympic, and International Athletes in Women’s Sports
Professor William N. Eskridge Jr.
Professors Joanna Harper, Philip Chilibeck, and Carol Ewing Graber
Professors of Constitutional Law
Reem Alsalem United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, its Causes and Consequences
Riley Gaines and 32 College Athletes
Scholars of Equal Opportunity and Antidiscrimination Law
State of West Virginia, et al.
States of Arkansas, Alabama, and 24 Other States
States of New York, Hawai‘i, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia
The American Civil Rights Project
The American College of Pediatricians
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, et al.
The Transgender Law Center, Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network, and PFLAG, Inc.
True Blue Sapphires, Inc.
U.S. House of Representatives
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
W. Clayton Burch, In His Official Capacity as State Superintendent
West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission
West Virginia State Board of Education
Women’s Declaration International USA