By Bill Lucia | Editor
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge against a Washington state law intended to provide protections to runaway transgender youth. Approved in 2023, it allows operators of emergency shelters to notify state authorities, rather than parents, when children seek refuge while they pursue gender-affirming care and support services. Opponents argue that the law infringes on parents’ rights.
That wasn’t the only action at the court in the past two days with implications for Washington. The justices also ruled yesterday that states can count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. The Trump administration and some Republican states were arguing for a hard stop on Election Day for accepting ballots. Here in Washington, ballots postmarked by Election Day are still counted even if they arrive later.
BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING…
The court struck down President Donald Trump’s attempt to redefine the constitutional right to birthright citizenship. In the decision, a majority of the justices upheld the country’s understanding of automatic citizenship by birth on American soil, regardless of the immigration status of a newborn’s parents.
The court also upheld laws banning transgender athletes from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams. The court found that such bans in Idaho and West Virginia do not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Also in today’s edition…
So far, so good for the World Cup in Seattle.
A new nominee to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
And, concerns over wildland firefighter safety following the deaths of three firefighters over the weekend.
News tips, feedback, questions? Email us: [email protected]
The high court
The front steps and columns of the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photo by Mint Images/Getty Images)
By Jerry Cornfield
As part of the case on Washington’s law concerning runaway transgender youth, the court will also examine related state guidelines for reuniting runaway youth with their families, and a longstanding law that allows children as young as 13 to receive outpatient treatment without a parent’s or guardian’s consent. The justices will hear the case in their fall term, which begins in October. Rulings in federal district and appeals courts have allowed the contested state law to stand. Washington law requires parents to be notified within 72 hours of their child’s arrival at an emergency shelter unless there are “compelling reasons” not to do so, such as signs of abuse or neglect.
By Jonathan Shorman
In its 5-4 decision allowing states to count mail-in ballots received after Election Day, the court said that federal law does not prevent this practice. The ruling is a win for Democrats and voting rights advocates, who said setting the Election Day deadline would risk disenfranchising voters amid fears of deteriorating mail service. “The electorate’s choice is made when voting is complete, not when ballots are received,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the majority. The Republican National Committee challenged the Mississippi law at the center of the case.
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said, “The ruling upholds our longstanding ballot return rules, which support accessible and fair elections.” Still, his office said using a ballot drop box before 8 p.m. on Election Day guarantees ballots are received on time and that if voters return their ballots by mail, they should do so more than a week before Election Day. “What this means for us is that Washington’s system of vote-by-mail doesn’t change,” said state Attorney General Nick Brown. “I hope this decision today restrains those who think Donald Trump is the nation’s election administrator.”
Check up on the World Cup
Seattle is getting positive reviews so far as a World Cup host city. Gov. Bob Ferguson, along with city and regional leaders, held a press conference yesterday to tout some of the figures and feedback following June’s matches.
Four official Seattle Fan Celebrations drew more than 750,000 visitors between June 15 and June 27, according to SeattleFWC26, the city’s local World Cup organizing committee. King County Metro and Sound Transit moved more than 1.1 million combined riders during the first two matches, including 280,000 light rail riders on June 19. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has seen some of its busiest days ever, and the city’s waterfront park has attracted droves of visitors.
Meanwhile, The Athletic ranked Seattle’s Lumen Field as the No. 1 stadium experience among this year’s FIFA World Cup venues.
“This is the moment we’ve been working toward for years, and Seattle, our communities, and the state of Washington have risen to meet it,” said Peter Tomozawa, CEO of SeattleFWC26.
Belgium and Senegal will play Wednesday in Seattle’s fifth World Cup match. The game starts at 1 p.m.
By Ariana Figueroa
President Donald Trump has nominated a former Oklahoma state trooper to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Richard “Lance” Schroyer’s nomination on June 27 comes on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed the Trump administration to strip legal status for 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians, a move that opens them up to deportation.
“Lance Schroyer has what it takes to DETAIN AND DEPORT Illegal Alien Criminals …,” Trump wrote on social media June 27. “…he LOVES the men and women of ICE.”
Richard “Lance” Schroyer. (Photo courtesy of Department of Homeland Security)
By Annie Knox
A union representing federal wildland firefighters is raising concerns about their safety and fatigue after an “explosive” first phase of the season, resulting in the deaths of three firefighters in Colorado near the Utah border. Federal officials on Monday identified the deceased crew members as Emily Barker, 38, of Clinton Township, Michigan; Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, Arizona; and Sydney Watson, 27, of Warrior, Alabama. Hutcherson and Barker were employees of the U.S. Forest Service; Watson of the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service housed in the U.S. Department of the Interior.
ICYMI
Thanks for reading The Daily Standard. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.