California Attorney General has joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in an amicus brief in International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v. , a U.S. Supreme Court case over Washington state laws on runaway minors who seek refuge and care at licensed youth homeless shelters, his office said Oct. 29.
In November 2023, a group of parents sued Washington in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, arguing the state's laws governing parental notification when a minor seeks refuge at a licensed youth shelter violate their constitutional rights by interfering with their ability to parent. The district court dismissed the complaint, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed. The case is now before the Supreme Court.
The coalition urges the court to affirm the dismissal. It argues that the parents have not shown they have legal standing, that accepting their complaint would give parental rights preferential treatment over other constitutional rights, and that “the lawsuit threatens states’ legitimate interest to protect the well-being of their child residents,” according to Bonta's office.
“Minors fleeing from difficult home lives deserve to receive proper protection and access to crucial medical treatment,” said Attorney General Bonta. “State laws like those in Washington allow licensed youth homeless shelters to care for minors seeking refuge while acknowledging the important role parents play in their children’s lives. These laws are being challenged by individuals who have no direct stake in, and who are unaffected by, the challenged laws. California remains committed to safeguarding our youths’ physical and mental well‑being while respecting parents’ rights. We will continue to work to empower healthy parent‑child relationships and ensure all individuals facing difficult times receive support to help them thrive.”
The office said the brief was joined by the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.
State
Bob Ferguson
Governor of Washington · Democrat
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
State
Rob Bonta
Attorney General · Democrat
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
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