The Liberty Justice Center (LJC), supported by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the California Justice Center, has formally petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to safeguard parental rights in the case of Littlejohn v. School Board of Leon County in Florida.
The LJC filed an amicus brief (friend-of-the-court) arguing that schools that conceal gender identity discussions and “socially transition” a child without parental notification violate the Constitution.
The case involves Florida parents, January and Jeffrey Littlejohn, who allege that their local school district in Leon County concealed “critical conversations” about their child’s gender identity. Furthermore, they claim the school proceeded to socially transition the child by using a new name and pronouns without informing or involving them.
Expert Testimony: Parental Involvement is Essential
The LJC’s brief was filed on behalf of Dr. Erica E. Anderson, PhD, a transgender clinical psychologist with over 45 years of experience counseling children and adolescents on gender identity issues. Drawing on her extensive professional practice, Dr. Anderson emphasizes that proper care for children experiencing gender incongruence ultimately requires the involvement of their parents.
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The filing argues that excluding or actively deceiving parents in this deeply personal decision violates longstanding Supreme Court precedent protecting parents’ fundamental right to direct their children’s upbringing, a right most recently reaffirmed in the Court’s 2025 Mahmoud v. Taylor decision.
Deception “Shocks the Conscience”
The brief goes on to assert that the deliberate deception of parents “shocks the conscience,” arguing this practice crosses a clear constitutional line.
“These secrecy policies unlawfully strip parents of their fundamental right to guide their children’s upbringing and health decisions,” said Dean McGee, Senior Counsel and Director of Educational Freedom at the Liberty Justice Center.
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McGee further stressed the need for national clarity, noting: “With courts nationwide divided on this critical issue, the Supreme Court must step in to provide clarity and reaffirm parents’ fundamental rights.”
Broader Advocacy for School Transparency
The Liberty Justice Center is a leading advocate for transparency in education and parental rights. The organization is currently challenging a California law, AB1955, which prohibits school districts from adopting policies that ensure parents are informed about major decisions concerning their children.
That challenge, Chino Valley v. Newsom, is currently pending before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The LJC’s full amicus brief in Littlejohn v. School Board of Leon County is available on their website.
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