Federal Judge Sanctions Alabama Attorneys for Judge-Shopping in Transgender Care Case

A federal judge in Alabama has sanctioned three attorneys involved in litigation challenging the state's ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors, citing their engagement in 'judge shopping' to avoid an assigned judge. Judge Liles Burke disqualified two lawyers and fined Carl Charles $5,000 for misconduct, following an investigation that revealed they attempted to maneuver their case to seek more favorable judges. The attorneys had initially filed two cases against the law but withdrew them to file a third with different plaintiffs in a neighboring district, which the court deemed as a calculated attempt to subvert judicial processes. Burke criticized their actions as an affront to the rule of law, emphasizing that such practices undermine public trust in the judicial system. While the attorneys' law firm disagreed with the sanctions, they are evaluating their options moving forward. The case remains significant as it addresses ongoing challenges to Alabama's controversial legislation on transgender healthcare.