October Term 2025 · Docket 24-539
Can Colorado Ban Counselors From Helping Minors Discuss Gender and Sexuality?
Colorado's law bars counselors from helping minors pursue state-disfavored goals on gender and sexuality. the side that brought the case calls it a speech restriction. The state calls it a healthcare safety rule.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
the side that brought the case argued that Colorado's law restricts speech based on content and viewpoint and must survive strict scrutiny under the First Amendment.
the opposing side argued that state power is at its apex when regulating healthcare professions to ensure safety, making the law a valid exercise of police power.
Justice Sotomayor questioned whether a law on the books alone creates a chilling effect or whether an imminent threat of prosecution is required. Justice Sotomayor also asked the side that brought the case to define talk therapy and whether Colorado disavows enforcement of that kind of treatment.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Kaley Chiles, a counselor, challenges a Colorado law that prohibits helping minors pursue state-disfavored goals on gender and sexuality. The state defends the law as a healthcare safety regulation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2025.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 29-29
What each side wants
Seeks a ruling that the law violates the First Amendment because it restricts speech based on content and viewpoint.
Seeks a ruling that the law is a valid healthcare safety regulation protecting minors from unsafe and ineffective treatments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
What each side says
The law restricts speech based on content and viewpoint, so it must survive strict scrutiny under the First Amendment.
State power is at its apex when regulating healthcare professions to ensure safety, making the law a valid exercise of police power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked whether merely having a law on the books creates a chilling effect, or whether there must be an imminent and credible threat of prosecution.
Justice Sotomayor asked the side that brought the case to define talk therapy and whether Colorado disavows enforcement of that kind of treatment. Justice Sotomayor also asked about the opposite sex in counseling context. Justice Thomas asked whether Colorado argued below that the law only prohibits treatments seeking to change a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity because they are unsafe and ineffective.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether counselors in Colorado can help minors discuss gender and sexuality. The state argues it can prohibit such conversations as part of regulating healthcare safety.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-51 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-51
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.