Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools
Description: Ever since the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference adopted a policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events, boys have consistently deprived Selina Soule, Alanna Smith, Chelsea Mitchell, and Ashley Nicoletti of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels. CIAC’s policy is at odds with Title IX, a federal law designed to create equal opportunities for women in education and athletics.
Court allows case of CT female athletes to continue
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Rachel Rouleau regarding a federal district court’s decision this week in Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools to allow the case of four female athletes, who are challenging a state athletic association policy that allows males to compete in women’s high school sports, to proceed, rejecting the request of state officials to dismiss the case:
“Selina, Chelsea, Alanna, and Ashley—like all female athletes—deserve access to fair competition. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s policy degraded each of their accomplishments and scarred their athletic records, irreparably harming each female athlete’s interest in accurate recognition of her athletic achievements. Following the 2nd Circuit’s decision to allow these brave women to make their case under Title IX and set the record straight, the district court has rightly rejected the state’s request to dismiss the case and instead recognized that the girls’ ‘schools are potentially liable for subjecting the plaintiffs to discrimination under their athletic programs in violation of Title IX.’ This is imperative not only for the women who have been deprived of medals, potential scholarships, and other athletic opportunities but for all female athletes across the country. This ruling creates one fewer obstacle for high school girls to face as they pursue their athletic dreams.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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B-roll (races):
- Terry Miller wins race over Selina Soule (2020-02-01)
- Terry Miller wins race over Alanna Smith (2019-04-20)
- Terry Miller wins race over Alanna Smith and Chelsea Mitchell (2019-06-03)
- Terry Miller wins race over Selina Soule and Alanna Smith (2019-06-03)
- Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood win race over Chelsea Mitchell (2018-06-04)
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ABOUT Cody Barnett
Cody Barnett serves as legal counsel on Alliance Defending Freedom’s Appellate Advocacy Team, where he represents various ADF clients before appellate courts across the country. Before joining ADF, Barnett served as the William H. Rehnquist Fellow at Cooper & Kirk PLLC. He then went on to clerk for the Honorable Amul R. Thapar and the Honorable Raymond M. Kethledge, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, and for the Honorable Justin R. Walker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Barnett earned his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2017, where he graduated first in his class. He also served as president of the Christian Legal Society and as an articles editor for the Kentucky Law Journal. He completed ADF’s Blackstone Legal Fellowship in 2017. Prior to law school, Barnett earned a Bachelor of Arts in both history and political science from Transylvania University. Barnett is admitted to practice law in Kentucky, the District of Columbia, and before several U.S. Courts of Appeal.
ABOUT Rachel Rouleau
Rachel Rouleau serves as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a member of the Center for Conscience Initiatives. Rouleau joined the Conscience Team in 2020, where she focuses on protecting the conscience rights of individuals being unjustly forced to compromise their beliefs under threat of heavy fines and punishment. Prior to that, she was a First Year Lawyer Fellow in ADF’s new fellowship program. Rouleau earned her J.D. from William and Mary Law School in 2019. She obtained her B.A. in political science from the University of Florida in 2015. She is a member of the Massachusetts bar.