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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on a federal court hearing about a portion of a North Carolina law governing the use of public bathrooms by transgender people. (all times local):
2:10 p.m.
A federal judge in North Carolina has decided not to rule immediately on whether to block a portion of a state law governing the use of public bathrooms by transgender people.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder heard evidence Monday, ahead of a November trial that will determine the law's longer-term prospects. Schroeder will preside over that trial.
The U.S. Justice Department and the American Civil Liberties Union asked Schroeder to block a provision of the law requiring transgender people to use restrooms in many public buildings that match their birth certificates, rather than their gender identities. The law known as House Bill 2 also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide antidiscrimination protections.
Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, state legislative leaders and a citizens' group are defending the law because they say it offers common-sense privacy protections.
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7:40 a.m.
The fate of the North Carolina law limiting LGBT protections rests in the hands of a judge appointed by President George W. Bush who is comfortable dissecting complex issues in lengthy rulings.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder has scheduled oral arguments for Monday on whether the state can require transgender people to use restrooms in many public buildings that match their birth certificates.
The U.S. Justice Department and the American Civil Liberties Union have challenged the law and are seeking preliminary injunctions to block the restroom provision. Defending HB2 are Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and state legislative leaders.
Lawyers who have had cases before Schroeder say he's more moderate than some other Republican-appointed judges and is known for dissecting complex issues in rulings that are hundreds of pages long.
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