The federal judge who will preside over one of the trials in the challenge of House Bill 2 says the North Carolina law’s transgender challengers are likely to succeed in one of their arguments against

 

U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder issued an order that blocks the UNC system from enforcing the bathroom portion of  HB2, the law which allows transgender students to use the bathroom of their sexual identity instead of their physical biology. UNC President Margaret Spellings has said the UNC system does not plan to enforce HB2, noting that the law contains no enforcement measures. Schroeder noted in his ruling the tenuous situation that UNC finds itself in — being subject to a state law that Justice Department officials contend conflicts with Title IX rules, in another legal challenge that Schroeder is likely to preside over.

 

HB2 is being challenged with five lawsuits and a challenge from the U.S. Justice Department.

 

Since the General Assembly passed it in late March, the law has become a campaign issue and has prompted some businesses and entertainers to cancel plans in North Carolina.

 

Though the judge’s ruling was limited to the three transgender challengers, who said they would suffer “irreparable harm” if HB2 were enforced while they awaited the November trial on their claims, Schroeder noted a lack of evidence from the legislators, governor and UNC officials.

 

They offered no evidence of anyone being harmed by transgender residents using bathrooms that did not match their birth certificates.