Clearinghouse coding in progress
(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)
The Board of Trustees of the California State University filed this suit against the U.S. Department of Education on March 6, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint centers on a transgender woman who played on San José State University's women's volleyball team from 2022 to 2024 under NCAA and conference eligibility rules. In January 2026, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights issued a Letter of Findings concluding that SJSU violated Title IX by allowing this transgender student to compete on women's teams and use women's facilities. Cal State alleges this finding contradicts binding Ninth Circuit precedent protecting transgender students from discrimination and that SJSU was following applicable law at the time. The Department has threatened to revoke SJSU's federal funding unless the university agrees to policy changes and public statements in a proposed resolution agreement. The complaint raises nine causes of action, alleging violations of the Spending Clause, Equal Protection Clause, First Amendment, and Administrative Procedure Act, and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent funding termination.
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72376094/parties/board-of-trustees-of-the-california-state-university-v-united-states/
Bessler, Abigail (California)
Fry, David H. (California)
Heckenlively, Bryan H. (California)
Long, Cynthia Y. (California)
Shim, Abigail Hayoung (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72376094/board-of-trustees-of-the-california-state-university-v-united-states/
Last updated April 18, 2026, 3:13 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Accommodations/ Contracting/ Organizational Discrimination
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Yes
Case Details
Other Dockets:
Northern District of California 5:26-cv-01970
Case Summary of Board of Trustees of the California State University v. United States Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47892/.