Key facts
- A U.S. federal appeals court reinstated a Justice Department subpoena for records from QueerDoc, a provider of gender-affirming care for minors.
- The appeals court found that a lower court judge wrongly concluded the subpoena was issued in bad faith.
- The subpoena is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to investigate treatments for transgender youth.
- The case has been sent back to a U.S. District Court to determine if the subpoena is overbroad or imposes an undue burden.
A U.S. federal appeals court has revived a Justice Department subpoena seeking data from QueerDoc, a provider of gender-affirming care for minors. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal judge in Seattle had wrongly concluded the subpoena was issued in bad faith.
QueerDoc provides gender-affirming care, including for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The subpoena, part of a wider investigation by the Trump administration into such treatments, sought personnel, billing, and patient records. Circuit Judge Carlos Bea, joined by Judge Daniel Bress, stated that the President can direct the Justice Department to align its statutory authority with his policy goals. Circuit Judge Richard Paez dissented, arguing there was evidence the Justice Department used the threat of criminal investigation to pressure providers.
The court did not order QueerDoc to produce the documents but sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead to consider arguments that the subpoena is overbroad and would unduly burden the small clinic. The Justice Department had argued that the subpoena was standard for investigating potential federal offenses in the healthcare space.