Wednesday, May 1, 2024

JUST IN: Permanent Injunction Issued Against the State of California Related to the RIPA Requirement to Disclose Gender Identity

    On April 30, 2024, Judge Christopher E. Krueger of the Sacramento County Superior Court issued a Permanent Injunction against the State of California prohibiting the DOJ from enforcement of RIPA’s gender disclosure requirements set forth in section 999.226(a)(23) of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulation.

    PORAC, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the California Police Chiefs Association, and the California State Sheriffs’ Association filed a legal action and obtained a TRO against the California DOJ to stop Attorney General Rob Bonta’s implementation of these forced identification regulations on January 22, 2024.

    David E. Mastagni and Timothy K. Talbot appeared in Sacramento Superior Court to request issuance of a Permanent Injunction pursuant to stipulation with the DOJ on April 30, 2024.  Today, the Court issued its order granting the permanent injunction which stated in pertinent part:

  • “Defendants and their agents, employees, and representatives are permanently enjoined from requiring any individual required to comply with RIPA to provide the “gender of officer,” as defined in section 999.226(a)(23) of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations, on any disclosures required by RIPA.”

    The Court’s minute explained:

    “The declarations submitted by Plaintiffs with the application for the temporary restraining order, coupled with the decision by Defendants State of California, California Department of Justice and Attorney General Rob Bonta not to contest that evidence and to stipulate to the injunction, provide sufficient factual and evidentiary basis for the issuance of a permanent injunction. The Court will approve the stipulation for final judgment.”

    We are proud to have represented law enforcement labor and management organizations to jointly protect the privacy rights of the peace officers who protect us all.

    For more on the RIPA legal battle, visit our previous blog post here outlining RIPA more fully.