Judge rules Idaho can enforce public school bathroom policy during ongoing legal battle

BOISE, Idaho - A judge ruled in favor of the Idaho Department of Education on Thursday in the case of Sexuality and Gender Alliance v. Critchfield, a preliminary win for the state in an ongoing legal battle. The decision means that Idaho public schools will be able to enforce a law dictating bathroom use according to biological sex, while it continues to be challenged in court.

According to court documents, the preliminary injunction—which would have prevented Idaho from enforcing the law while the case remains in court—was denied due to the likelihood the Sexuality and Gender Alliance will be unable to succeed in their forthcoming arguments.

Idaho Senate Bill 1100, the law in question, was adopted by the legislature on March 22, 2023. The law "requires that students in Idaho public scho