Remaining Challenges To California's Ban On Reparative Therapy For Minors Dismissed

In 2013, the 9th Circuit rejected a facial free speech challenge by mental health providers to California's ban on engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with patients under 18. It also rejected a parental rights claim.  (See prior posting.) Now in Pickup v. Brown, (ED CA, Sept. 15, 2015), a California federal district court dismissed remaining challenges to the statute.  Finding the law is neutral and generally applicable, the court dismissed a facial Free Exercise challenge. The court also rejected, with leave to file an amended complaint, plaintiffs' "as applied" free speech challenge.