Case: United States v. California Interscholastic Federation

8:25-cv-01485 | U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Filed Date: July 9, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case is about California policies allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' sports and access female locker rooms. On July 9, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and the California Department of Education (CDE). The United States brought claims under Title IX and its implementing regulations. Judge Fred W. Slaughter was initially assigned to the case but re…

This case is about California policies allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' sports and access female locker rooms. On July 9, 2025, the United States filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and the California Department of Education (CDE). The United States brought claims under Title IX and its implementing regulations. Judge Fred W. Slaughter was initially assigned to the case but recused himself pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 455. The matter was then reassigned to Judge Cynthia Valenzuela.

Represented by public counsel from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the United States sought declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and damages. It claimed that CIF and CDE policies requiring female athletes to compete against transgender girls, whom the complaint describes as “biological males identifying as females,” resulted in unfair displacement from podiums, denied awards, and missed college scholarships and recognition, violating Title IX’s guarantee of equal access to educational benefits. The complaint further alleged that requiring girls to share intimate spaces like locker rooms with transgender girls created a hostile educational environment that compromised girls’ privacy, safety, and dignity, effectively denying them educational opportunities. The United States argued these policies were discriminatory because they ignored "undeniable biological differences between boys and girls" in favor of "gender identity," which they asserted was illegal, unfair, and demeaning to girls, undermining Title IX's purpose.

This case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Victoria Tan (8/22/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70739251/parties/united-states-v-california-interscholastic-federation/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Donnelly, Matthew (California)

Hamill, Julie Ann (California)

Keenan, Robert J. (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Benner, Jonathan (California)

Donald, James Scott (California)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

8:25-cv-01485

Complaint

United States of America v. California Interscholastic Federation

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70739251/united-states-v-california-interscholastic-federation/

Last updated Oct. 3, 2025, 9:20 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT No Fee Required - US Government, filed by Plaintiff UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attorney Robert J. Keenan added to party UNITED STATES OF AMERICA(pty:pla))(Keenan, Robert) (Entered: 07/09/2025)

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed by Plaintiff UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Keenan, Robert) (Entered: 07/09/2025)

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

PACER
3

Request for Clerk to Issue Summons on Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening) 1 filed by Plaintiff UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1 Summons in a Civil Action)(Park, Richard) (Entered: 07/09/2025)

1 Summons in a Civil Action

View on RECAP

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

PACER
4

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT to District Judge Fred W. Slaughter and Magistrate Judge John D. Early. (car) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
5

NOTICE TO PARTIES OF COURT-DIRECTED ADR PROGRAM filed. (car) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
6

Notice to Counsel Re Consent to Proceed Before a United States Magistrate Judge. (car) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
7

21 DAY Summons Issued re Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening) 1 as to Defendant California Department of Education. (car) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
8

21 DAY Summons Issued re Complaint (Attorney Civil Case Opening) 1 as to Defendant California Interscholastic Federation. (car) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
9

CIVIL STANDING ORDER by Judge Fred W. Slaughter. (rrp) (Entered: 07/14/2025)

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

PACER
10

NOTICE of Appearance filed by attorney Edward Wesley Nugent on behalf of Defendant California Department of Education (Attorney Edward Wesley Nugent added to party California Department of Education(pty:dft))(Nugent, Edward) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

RECAP
11

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed by Plaintiff United States of America, upon Defendant California Interscholastic Federation served on 7/17/2025, answer due 8/7/2025. Service of the Summons and Complaint were executed upon Mike West, authorized agent, in compliance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by personal service (Donnelly, Matthew) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

PACER
12

PROOF OF SERVICE Executed by Plaintiff United States of America, upon Defendant California Department of Education served on 7/18/2025, answer due 8/8/2025. Service of the Summons and Complaint were executed upon Megan Noblett, authorized agent, in compliance with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by personal service (Donnelly, Matthew) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

PACER
13

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney James Scott Donald counsel for Defendant California Interscholastic Federation. Adding J. Scott Donald as counsel of record for California Interscholastic Federation for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendant California Interscholastic Federation. (Attorney James Scott Donald added to party California Interscholastic Federation(pty:dft))(Donald, James) (Entered: 07/31/2025)

July 31, 2025

July 31, 2025

PACER
14

STIPULATION Extending Time to Answer the complaint as to All Defendants,, STIPULATION for Order Setting Briefing Schedule for Any Motion Filed In Response to Complaint filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Keenan, Robert) (Entered: 08/01/2025)

Aug. 1, 2025

Aug. 1, 2025

PACER
15

ORDER TO REASSIGN CASE due to self-recusal pursuant to this Court's General Order in the Matter of Assignment of Cases and Duties to the District Judges.by Judge Fred W. Slaughter. Case transferred from Judge Fred W. Slaughter to the calendar of Judge Cynthia Valenzuela for all further proceedings. Case number now reads as 8:25-cv-01485-CV-JDE. (dgo) (Entered: 08/04/2025)

Aug. 4, 2025

Aug. 4, 2025

Clearinghouse
16

STANDING ORDER For Civil Cases upon filing of the complaint by Judge Cynthia Valenzuela. (jec) (Entered: 08/05/2025)

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

RECAP
17

ORDER RE MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT by Judge Cynthia Valenzuela. (jec) (Entered: 08/05/2025)

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

Clearinghouse
18

ORDER GRANTING STIPULATION EXTENDING TIME TO ANSWER THE COMPLAINT AS TO ALL DEFENDANTS; STIPULATION SETTING BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR ANY MOTION FILED IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINT by Judge Cynthia Valenzuela: The Court hereby GRANTS the Stipulation 14 and ORDERS that Defendants California Interscholastic Federation and California Department of Education shall have until 9/5/2025 to file an answer or a motion in response to Plaintiff's complaint. If a motion is filed in response to the complaint, the briefing and hearing schedule for such motion shall be as follows: United States' Opposition due 9/19/2025. Defendants' Reply Brief due 10/3/2025. In-Person Hearing on 10/24/2025 at 1:30 PM (or such later date as the Court may select). (gk) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
19

NOTICE of Appearance filed by attorney Darrell Warren Spence on behalf of Defendant California Department of Education (Attorney Darrell Warren Spence added to party California Department of Education(pty:dft))(Spence, Darrell) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
20

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Anthony Charles Pinggera counsel for Defendant California Interscholastic Federation. Adding Anthony Charles Pinggera as counsel of record for California Interscholastic Federation; California Department of Education for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendants California Interscholastic Federation. (Attorney Anthony Charles Pinggera added to party California Interscholastic Federation(pty:dft))(Pinggera, Anthony) (Entered: 08/29/2025)

Aug. 29, 2025

Aug. 29, 2025

PACER
21

NOTICE TO FILER OF DEFICIENCIES in Electronic Filed Document RE: Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel (G-123), 20 . The following error(s) was/were found: Attorney was added to the wrong party: California Interscholastic Federation. Should be added to California Dept of Education In response to this notice, the Court may: (1) order an amended or correct document to be filed; (2) order the document stricken; or (3) take other action as the Court deems appropriate. You need not take any action in response to this notice unless and until the Court directs you to do so. (bmg) (Entered: 08/29/2025)

Aug. 29, 2025

Aug. 29, 2025

PACER
22

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Anthony Charles Pinggera counsel for Defendant California Department of Education. Adding Anthony Charles Pinggera as counsel of record for California Department of Education for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendant California Department of Education. (Attorney Anthony Charles Pinggera added to party California Department of Education(pty:dft))(Pinggera, Anthony) (Entered: 08/29/2025)

Aug. 29, 2025

Aug. 29, 2025

PACER
23

NOTICE of Appearance filed by attorney Jonathan Benner on behalf of Defendant California Department of Education (Attorney Jonathan Benner added to party California Department of Education(pty:dft))(Benner, Jonathan) (Entered: 09/04/2025)

Sept. 4, 2025

Sept. 4, 2025

PACER
24

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Stacey L Leask counsel for Defendant California Department of Education. Adding Stacey L. Leask as counsel of record for California Department of Education for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Defendants California Interscholastic Federation and California Department of Education. (Attorney Stacey L Leask added to party California Department of Education(pty:dft))(Leask, Stacey) (Entered: 09/05/2025)

Sept. 5, 2025

Sept. 5, 2025

RECAP
25

Joint NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Dismiss Case filed by Defendant California Department of Education. Motion set for hearing on 10/24/2025 at 01:30 PM before Judge Cynthia Valenzuela. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendants' Joint Motion to Dismiss, # 2 Declaration of Edward Nugent in Support of Defendants' Joint Motion to Dismiss, # 3 Proposed Order Granting Defendants' Joint Motion to Dismiss) (Nugent, Edward) (Entered: 09/05/2025)

1 Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendants' Joint Motion

View on PACER

2 Declaration of Edward Nugent in Support of Defendants' Joint Motion to Dism

View on PACER

3 Proposed Order Granting Defendants' Joint Motion to Dismiss

View on PACER

Sept. 5, 2025

Sept. 5, 2025

RECAP
26

Notice of Appearance or Withdrawal of Counsel: for attorney Julie Ann Hamill counsel for Plaintiff United States of America. Adding Julie A. Hamill as counsel of record for United States of America for the reason indicated in the G-123 Notice. Filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Attorney Julie Ann Hamill added to party United States of America(pty:pla))(Hamill, Julie) (Entered: 09/19/2025)

Sept. 19, 2025

Sept. 19, 2025

PACER
27

OPPOSITION to Joint NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Dismiss Case 25 filed by Plaintiff United States of America. (Attorney Matthew Donnelly added to party United States of America(pty:pla))(Donnelly, Matthew) (Entered: 09/19/2025)

Sept. 19, 2025

Sept. 19, 2025

RECAP
28

Order AND ~Util - Set/Reset Hearings

Sept. 28, 2025

Sept. 28, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 9, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

California Interscholastic Federation, State

California Department of Education, State

California Department of Education, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

School/University Facilities

School/University policies

Discrimination Area:

Sports

Discrimination Basis:

Gender identity

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Transgender