Analysis: John Roberts leads the charge to uphold bans on trans care

Summary

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, appears poised to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, signaling a pivotal moment for transgender rights.

Roberts, citing state authority over medical decisions, compared the case to his 2015 dissent in Obergefell v. Hodges, where he opposed judicial intervention on same-sex marriage.

Conservative justices emphasized minimal judicial scrutiny, while liberal justices, including Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, warned of harm to transgender youths.

The case underscores broader tensions over constitutional protections versus legislative authority in regulating trans rights.