Two lawsuits challenging Minnesota’s policy allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls high school sports are heading to court in St. Paul on Monday to address claims regarding Title IX and competitive fairness.
The Female Athletes United Courtroom Clash
The first legal salvo arrives Monday morning. At 10 a.m., a hearing is scheduled in a 2025 lawsuit brought by the group Female Athletes United.
The plaintiffs have targeted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, state officials, the Minnesota State High School League, and three distinct school districts. At the heart of their argument is the claim that current state rules undermine competitive fairness and violate Title IX by permitting transgender athletes to compete alongside girls.
The road to Monday has already seen steep judicial hurdles for the group. Female Athletes United previously pressed for a preliminary injunction to halt the policy, but a federal judge rejected the bid. An appeals court subsequently upheld that denial earlier this spring. Following Monday’s arguments, the plaintiffs plan to host a press conference.
Federal Enforcement Action Over Title IX and Funding
Just one hour later, at 11 a.m., a separate federal legal battle takes center stage in St. Paul.
Filed in March, the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit targets the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League. The federal government’s complaint contends that Minnesota’s policies generate unfair competition, strip girls of equal educational opportunities, and subject students to both physical risks and a hostile educational environment.
The stakes in the federal action are exceptionally high. The Justice Department is demanding nearly $10 million and is directly linking state compliance with the Trump administration’s ban on transgender athletes to the continued flow of federal funding.
Arguments for Dismissal and Mootness
Before the federal case can advance toward trial, the court must weigh a motion to dismiss filed by the Minnesota Department of Education.
The state’s defense hinges on a procedural argument: the Minnesota Department of Education asserts the lawsuit should be thrown out because the two students originally named as causing harm have already graduated. According to the state, their departure leaves no active controversy remaining for the court to resolve.
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