Twenty state attorneys general have joined in opposition to former President Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown played a key role in filing a legal brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The brief supports a lawsuit led by U.S. Navy Commander Emily Shilling, a transgender service member with over 20 years of experience who seeks to continue her military career.
According to the Washington Attorney General’s Office, the executive order could impact constitutional rights and potentially affect military readiness, especially as some state National Guard units face recruitment challenges.
The attorneys general argue that maintaining the injunction against the ban is necessary to ensure equal treatment and support a diverse military. The coalition includes attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The brief was led by the offices of the attorneys general from Washington and Vermont.
