10 more states sue Obama administration to protect student privacy, prevent lawless federal overreach

Friday, Jul 8, 2016

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Kellie Fiedorek regarding 10 states that filed suit Friday in State of Nebraska v. United States of America (in addition to 13 that already filed suit) against the Obama administration’s directive to public schools that would force students to share rooms on overnight school trips and undress in the same locker room with members of the opposite sex:

“The Obama administration cannot unilaterally redefine federal law to serve its own political ends and lawlessly impose its will on local schools. Twenty-three states have now filed suit to stop this overreach, designed to force students to shower and undress in the same locker rooms and to share rooms on overnight trips with students of the opposite sex—something they shouldn’t ever be forced to do. The administration has exceeded its authority in threatening schools that choose to protect children’s privacy. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and the growing number of states across the country who joined him in this lawsuit are to be commended for exercising common sense and defending the privacy and safety of children.”

Related case: Students and Parents for Privacy v. United States Department of Education
Related case: North Carolinians for Privacy v. United States Department of Justice
Related case: Board of Education of the Highland Local School District v. United States Department of Education
Additional resource: SafeBathrooms.org
Pronunciation guide: Fiedorek (Fuh-DOHR’-eck)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.

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Legal Documents

Complaint: State of Nebraska v. United States of America

Related Resources

ABOUT Kellie Fiedorek

Kellie Fiedorek serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a member of the Strategic Affairs Team. Since joining ADF in 2012, Fiedorek has defended religious liberty, marriage, and the family against legal attacks. She has authored federal and state legislation, and advised members of Congress, governors, state attorneys general, state legislators, and policy organizations on how to preserve First Amendment freedoms. She has also litigated constitutional cases defending citizens’ freedom to live and work according to their conscience. Fiedorek earned her J.D. from Ave Maria School of Law in 2009. Before graduating from law school, she completed the Alliance Defending Freedom leadership development program to become a Blackstone Fellow in 2008. She is admitted to the bar in Florida, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Supreme Court, and multiple federal appellate courts.