No. 25-840October Term 2025Before ArgumentsUpdated Sep 3, 2026
International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson
International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v. Bob Ferguson, Governor of Washington
The case concerns Washington laws that allow youth shelters to use alternative procedures rather than immediately notifying parents when a runaway minor seeks certain gender-affirming care services.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Argument scheduled Dec 7, 2026
- Next
- Oral argument December 7, 2026Decision expected by late June 2027
- What it's about
The case concerns Washington laws that allow youth shelters to use alternative procedures rather than immediately notifying parents when a runaway minor seeks certain gender-affirming care services. The Supreme Court will consider whether the parent plaintiffs have legal standing to challenge those laws in federal court.
Question presented
Whether parents have standing to challenge a law or policy that deliberately displaces their decision-making role as to "gender transitions" of their children, and in so doing creates present and likely future impediments to their ability to parent their children as they deem best for them.
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Argument scheduled Dec 7, 2026
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2027
Argument is on the calendar for December 7, 2026. Decisions typically follow within about 98 days of argument. Nearly all opinions are released before the term ends in late June or early July 2027.
Briefing
What it's about
Parents and advocacy groups challenge Washington laws concerning parental notification when a runaway minor seeks gender-affirming care. The Court will consider whether the parents have standing (the right to bring a case) to challenge policies they say interfere with their parental decision-making.
Argument
The Court has granted certiorari (agreed to hear the case), but oral argument has not been scheduled.
Impact
The case could determine whether parents may bring federal challenges before a particular care decision directly affects their child. For example, it concerns Washington parents whose runaway child seeks gender-affirming care under an alternative notification procedure.
What's next
Watch for an oral-argument date or another scheduling order from the Court. No decision window is available yet.
What is at stake in International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson?
The case asks whether parents can sue over Washington policies they say displace their role in decisions about their children's gender transitions.
Who could be affected by the Washington notification dispute?
Washington parents and runaway minors seeking gender-affirming care could be affected. The case concerns alternative procedures for notifying parents.
When will the Supreme Court hear International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson?
No oral-argument date has been scheduled. The Court has granted review, so the next step is a scheduling move or argument notice.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Jan 7, 2026 | Court records
Brief added: Questions Presented
Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology