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In contrast, liberal justices like Sonia Sotomayor raised concerns about the potential consequences of withholding medical treatment, highlighting the rates of suicide among gender-dysphoric youths. This debate highlighted the tension between medical perspectives and civil rights considerations, with the justices appearing to grapple with the implications of either upholding or rejecting Tennessee's law.
Chief Justice Roberts and Swing Vote Dynamics
As the court deliberated, Chief Justice John Roberts emerged as a potential swing vote. His inquiries favored leaving medical determinations to state governments, advocating for a legislative rather than judicial resolution to the nuanced issues surrounding transgender health care.