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The Supreme Court on Friday decided to take up the issue of transgender rights, a decision that is guaranteed to shake up the social policy landscape at time when there are only eight justices on the bench, reports USA Today:

The justices will consider a Virginia school district’s challenge to Obama administration regulations requiring that schools allow transgender students to use restrooms matching their chosen gender, rather than birth gender.

A federal appeals court ruled in April for high school student Gavin Grimm in one of several lawsuits challenging the Department of Education rule. The justices could have sidestepped the issue pending action by other appellate courts but decided to wade in now. The case is likely to be heard by April and decided by late June.

Grimm, a 17-year-old high school senior in Gloucester County, Virginia, identified as a boy several years ago and eventually sought to use the boys’ bathroom in school. He is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, whose legal director, Steven Shapiro, said, “We want to get it resolved for his benefit as fast as we can.”

In August, the justices blocked a lower court’s ruling on the issue while they determined whether to take up the case. Now with Friday’s announcement, they are hoping a ninth justice will be confirmed by the time the case is heard, writes the news outlet.

Do you think the court will uphold Obama’s regulation? Sound off in comments.

SOURCE: USA Today | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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