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S.D., et al. v. Reese, et al. — 9th Cir. (Aug 27, 2026)

No. 26-4872 Argued August 27, 2026 Published August 28, 2026; updated September 5, 2026

The Ninth Circuit considers class-wide preliminary relief over Oregon's housing reviews for transgender women in custody. A preliminary injunction is temporary relief before final judgment. Provisional class certification temporarily treats the group as a class for preliminary relief. The district court ordered individualized reviews beginning with a presumption favoring housing consistent with gender identity and accounting for preferences, safety, medical needs, and other factors. Oregon says aggregate data do not prove a statewide default. S.D., J.F., and the class say the data and declarations support the order.

S.D., et al. v. Reese, et al. (No. 26-4872) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 27, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/27/26-4872.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=26-4872&hearingDate=2026-08-27
Preliminary-injunction opinion and order — U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ord-6_25-cv-01726/pdf/USCOURTS-ord-6_25-cv-01726-0.pdf
Reconsideration opinion and amended relief — U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ord-6_25-cv-01726/pdf/USCOURTS-ord-6_25-cv-01726-1.pdf
Argument report — Oregon Public Broadcasting:https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/27/oregon-transgender-trans-prison-law-lawsuit/
Ariel T. Ashtamker — State Bar of California:https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/331199
Ariel Ashtamker — Oregon Judicial Department opinion:https://ojd.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p17027coll5/id/42443/download
John Burgess — Post Burgess LLC:https://civilrightsoregon.com/attorneys/john-burgess/
John Burgess — Oregon State Bar:https://www.osbar.org/members/membersearch_display.asp?b=106498&s=1
John Burgess — Oregon Judicial Department opinion:https://ojd.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p17027coll5/id/39270/download
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/26-4872
Provisional class certification — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2021/12/10/20-55568.pdf

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