Second Circuit Reinstates Mid-Vermont Christian School in Sports, Signals Likely First Amendment Win
Now that the Second Circuit has granted an injunction, Mid-Vermont Christian School is eligible to compete again in VPA events during the ongoing litigation.
Appeals Court Grants Preliminary Injunction
A federal appeals court has granted an injunction ordering that Mid-Vermont Christian School be reinstated to the Vermont Principals’ Association and allowed to resume participation in state athletic competitions, according to reporting from Vermont news outlets.
Reasoning: Likely to Succeed on Religious-Neutrality Claim
In an opinion issued on September 9, Judge Michael H. Park of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit wrote that the Christian school is “likely to succeed in showing that the VPA’s expulsion … was not neutral because it displayed hostility toward the school’s religious beliefs.” Judge Park described the VPA’s action as “unprecedented, overbroad, and procedurally irregular,” according to court documents reviewed by national legal reporters.
Case Background: Forfeiture and Ban
In February 2023, Mid-Vermont Christian School forfeited a girls’ basketball playoff game when the opposing team included a transgender athlete. The school cited concerns over “fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” according to interviews at the time.
The Vermont Principals’ Association responded by banning the school from all future state tournaments and extracurricular events, citing violations of its nondiscrimination policies.
The school then filed a federal lawsuit, asserting that the enforcement of the policy violated its First Amendment rights, particularly freedom of religion and free exercise, according to court filings.
A district court denied a preliminary injunction in June 2024, finding that the VPA’s policy could be upheld under rational-basis review. The school appealed, leading to the Second Circuit’s latest ruling.
Legal Perspectives: Neutrality vs. Religious Exercise
Attorneys for the school argued that the VPA’s actions showed hostility toward religious beliefs and were not applied in a neutral way. They said the ban placed an unconstitutional burden on the school’s right to practice its faith, according to briefs filed in the case.
The VPA has argued that its policies, including allowing transgender athletes to compete consistent with their gender identity, are designed to eliminate discrimination and are generally applicable across all member schools. Supporters of the policy say that religious beliefs should not exempt a school from complying with neutral anti-discrimination standards, according to advocacy groups that have weighed in on the case.
What Comes Next
Now that the Second Circuit has granted an injunction, Mid-Vermont Christian School is eligible to compete again in VPA events during the ongoing litigation. According to legal analysts, further proceedings in the Second Circuit are expected, though either party could seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court. If that occurs, the case could have wide-ranging implications for the balance between religious liberties and anti-discrimination policies in schools.
Local Significance for Vermont Communities
For students and families at Mid-Vermont Christian School, reinstatement means a return to the athletic and extracurricular activities that connect them with peers across the state. For Vermont communities more broadly, the case underscores ongoing debates about how best to balance religious freedom with protections for transgender students in public and private education.