Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes felt in Arizona
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Major U.S. Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship and transgender athletes could have a significant impact in Arizona.
State of play: The high court handed down several big rulings Tuesday.
Transgender athletes: The court upheld Idaho and West Virginia laws banning transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.
- Arizona is one of 27 states with similar laws on the books.
- The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a legal challenge against Arizona's 2022 law back to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously upheld an injunction against it. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne told Axios he'll file a motion in federal court to lift the injunction as well.
- "This is a win for common sense and, more importantly, a win for girls," Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert), who filed an amicus brief in the case with House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear), said in a press statement.
Birthright citizenship: The justices struck down President Trump's order denying birthright citizenship to people born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally, reinforcing a long-held interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
- Arizona AG Kris Mayes, who joined a coalition of Democratic-led states that challenged the executive order in January 2025, praised the ruling.
- "Birthright citizenship has strengthened our communities and made this country a beacon of opportunity for generations of families who came here seeking a better life in a free country," she said in a press statement.
Catch up quick: Tuesday's opinions followed a series of other major Supreme Court rulings on Monday.
- The court upheld a Mississippi law allowing states to count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, as long as they're postmarked by the day of the election.
- Yes, but: The ruling won't affect Arizona because state law only permits the counting of early ballots that election officials receive by 7pm on Election Day.
- Secretary of State Adrian Fontes reminded Arizonans to mail their ballots by July 14 for the July 21 primary.
What we're watching: The court yesterday agreed to hear cases over Arizona laws on proof of citizenship for voter registration and the removal of people from voter rolls if citizenship can't be confirmed.
- Arizona has long required proof of citizenship to register to vote, but a 2013 Supreme Court decision created a bifurcated system where people without proof can register using federal forms, but are only eligible to vote in federal races.
- The 2022 state law at issue requires citizenship proof for people registering using state forms.