The NC Values Institute and Advocates for Faith & Freedom filed this amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reverse the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling in Littlejohn v. School Board of Leon County. The case challenges a school district policy that secretly facilitated a child’s gender transition at school without parental consent and required staff and students to use preferred pronouns under threat of discipline. The brief argues that this policy tramples parental rights, compels speech on a deeply contested issue, and forces conformity to state-imposed ideology in violation of the First Amendment. It further criticizes the Eleventh Circuit’s use of the vague “shocks-the-conscience” test, which effectively nullified parents’ ability to defend their fundamental rights. The amici contend that the Court must protect parental authority, free speech, and religious liberty against government overreach, and call for a clear rejection of compelled speech and secretive school practices that undermine families.
Littlejohn v. Leon County Amicus Brief
October 3, 2025
Amicus Brief • Family • Freedom • Issues • Take Action
“As a society, we need to cherish the institutions that bring us into existence, and give our existence meaning. I believe human flourishing starts with the heart and the home.”
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
“… if we descend still lower and go down to families, it is true even there that the village is composed of families and not that the families are cut from the village. The family was there first, and only then could the village take shape. Finally, if the village vanished there would still be families; but if the households were to disband the village too would come to an end.”
Paid for by the NC Values Institute.
The Institute for Faith and Family is a non-partisan, statewide non-profit education organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is based in Raleigh, NC.
