US Governance — 2026-03-31
Supreme Court Strikes Down Colorado Conversion Therapy Ban 8-1 on First Amendment Grounds
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors violates the First Amendment by regulating speech based on viewpoint. Justice Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion; Justice Jackson dissented, warning the decision opens a dangerous can of worms by undermining states' ability to regulate medical practices. The ruling threatens similar bans in more than 20 states.
Analysis
The 8-1 margin, with only Jackson dissenting, signals this is not a closely contested area of law for the current court. The decision effectively creates a First Amendment shield for talk-based practices that states have regulated as medical care. With 20+ states having similar bans, the ruling will trigger immediate legal challenges nationwide. Jackson'sbench dissent is rare and signals she views this as a fundamental shift in the court's approach to state regulatory authority over health care.
The 8-1 margin, with only Jackson dissenting, signals this is not a closely contested area of law for the current court. The decision effectively creates a First Amendment shield for talk-based practices that states have regulated as medical care. With 20+ states having similar bans, the ruling will trigger immediate legal challenges nationwide. Jackson's