Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier leads a multi-state push asking the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to take a Tallahassee parental rights case.
In a video posted on X, Uthmeier said that this is a "fight for parents across the country," as he sided with 21 other states. They have all signed onto the friend-of-the-court brief in support of January and Jeffrey Littlejohn.
Parental Rights Case
The Florida attorney general said they are excited to stand behind Mrs. Littlejohn in her case and fight for parents across the country. His state's brief is one of five that have been filed with the Supreme Court on Monday.
The situation comes as the Littlejohns have been fighting in court against the Leon County School Board since 2021. It all started after they asked for damages, including for emotional distress, arguing that their relationship with their child was damaged because of the district, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Even though the family lost their case in two federal courts, they are still trying to argue that the Leon County School District violated their parental rights. This was by speaking to their child about a gender support plan without informing the couple first. The child in question apparently wanted to express a gender identity and use pronouns that their parents did not support.
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Mr. Littlejohn has since become a spokesperson for the parents' rights movement and has previously appeared alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis and Uthmeier at several events. He has also spoken at various conservative groups events, including Moms for Liberty and the Heritage Foundation.
In a brief filed by Uthmeier's office, they said that parental rights are "fundamental and foundational." It added that parents are the ones entrusted with "ultimate responsibility" for the care, formation, and well-being of their kids, CBS News reported.
Making Decisions in Place of Parents
Parental rights have recently been the focus amid an increasing number of public-school officials taking it upon themselves to make major decisions for children in place of or against their parents' wishes.
The Littlejohns are criticizing school officials for hiding the "social transition" of their child from them. The couple argued that this type of intervention was "highly destructive" and could result in permanent damage to their child's mental and physical health.
The latest push comes after a three-judge federal appeals panel ruled in March against the family because the school district's actions did not "shock the conscience." Judge Robin Rosenbaum said that the defendants did not force the family's child to do anything, as per the Florida Phoenix.
