T.D. v. Wrigley (North Dakota)

This case, filed in state court, challenges North Dakota’s criminalization of essential health care for transgender and nonbinary young people.   

North Dakota currently makes it a misdemeanor — with a sentence of up to 360 days in jail and $3,000 in fines — for doctors to prescribe medications such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers to transgender or nonbinary children. It remains legal for doctors to prescribe these medications to children who are not transgender. 

Plaintiffs in the case included three North Dakota families and a physician. The families, two of whom wish to remain anonymous due to privacy and safety concerns, have children who were already undergoing medical treatment for gender dysphoria when the health care ban took effect. All of the families were forced to travel out of state to continue receiving care, with some having to make a seven-hour roundtrip. In its ruling on the state’s motion for summary judgment, Judge Lofgren dismissed the families as plaintiffs but allowed the physician to proceed on his own behalf and on behalf of his current and future patients.

The health care ban violates the North Dakota Constitution by singling out transgender children for unequal treatment under the law and represents an unacceptable governmental intrusion into families’ private lives and personal decisions.

Dr. Luis Casas

North Dakota Attorney General Drew H. Wrigley; State’s Attorney for Cass County Kimberlee Jo Hegvik; State’s Attorney for Burleigh County Julie Lawyer; State’s Attorney for Stark County Amanda Engelstad

Gender Justice; Ciresi Conlin LLP

State District Court Conducts Trial

State District Court Grants In Part and Denies In Part State’s Motion for Summary Judgement; Case Moves to Trial

State District Court Denies Preliminary Injunction; Confirms Youth Receiving Treatment Prior to Ban Can Continue to Receive Care in North Dakota

State District Court Hears Oral Argument on Plaintiff’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction

State District Court Hears Oral Argument on Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order

Plaintiffs File Complaint

Press Release: Trial Ends in Lawsuit Against North Dakota’s Trans Health Care Ban

Press Release: Lawsuit Over North Dakota’s Ban on Health Care for Trans Youth Heads to Trial

Press Release: Victory: Judge Allows Lawsuit Against ND Transgender Health Care Ban to Move Forward

Press Release: North Dakota Families Ask Judge To Block Ban On Best-Practice Health Care For Transgender Youth

Press Release: Attorneys for North Dakota Families Ask Judge to Block Health Care Ban for Transgender Kids

Press Release: North Dakota Families Sue State to Block Law Banning Health Care for Transgender and Nonbinary Kids