Supreme Court Upholds Washington State's Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors

The Supreme Court has declined to hear a First Amendment challenge to Washington state's ban on conversion therapy for minors, leaving intact a lower court opinion upholding the law. The ban, enacted in 2018, prohibits licensed therapists from practicing conversion therapy on patients under 18. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh expressed their willingness to hear the case. Thomas argued that the law restricts speech and violates the First Amendment, while Alito stated that the case raises a question of national importance. The decision comes as 26 states and the District of Columbia have restricted the practice of conversion therapy on minors.