Supreme Court allows transgender student to use boys' restrooms at S.C. school

The decision means that a student identified as John Doe can use the restroom that corresponds with his gender identity while litigation continues.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request by South Carolina officials to bar a transgender boy from using the boys' restrooms at his school.

The court denied an emergency request filed by the state, which has recently enacted measures aimed at forcing schools to bar transgender students from using restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

The brief order stressed that the decision "is not a ruling on the merits of the legal issues presented in the litigation."

Three conservative members of the court — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — said they would have granted the request.

The only issue before the Supreme Court was whether one ninth grade student, named in court papers as John Doe, could use the boys' restrooms at his school while litigation continues.