{"id":2495728,"date":"2025-10-07T15:07:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T19:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-skeptical-of-colorados-conversion-therapy-ban\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T15:08:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T19:08:17","slug":"supreme-court-skeptical-of-colorados-conversion-therapy-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-skeptical-of-colorados-conversion-therapy-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court skeptical of Colorado&#8217;s &#8216;conversion therapy&#8217; ban"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsupreme-court-skeptical-of-colorados-conversion-therapy-ban%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2495728&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the case *Chiles v. Salazar*, which challenges Colorado&#8217;s ban on so-called &#8220;conversion therapy.&#8221; The case involves Kaley chiles, a licensed counselor in Colorado, who claims that the state&#8217;s law unlawfully restricts her free speech by prohibiting her from counseling minors to dissuade them from changing their gender identities or sexual orientations. Colorado defends the ban as a regulation of healthcare, arguing that licensed counselors should be held to medical standards and are thus not entitled to First amendment protections in this context.<\/p>\n<p>During the hearing, justices expressed skepticism about Colorado&#8217;s position. Justice Clarence Thomas questioned why licensed counselors are restricted while ministers and life coaches are not,highlighting questions about the distinction between regulated healthcare providers and others. Justice elena Kagan challenged the state&#8217;s view equating talk therapy with medical advice, asking if there is truly no difference between counseling and a doctor&#8217;s advice. Justice Samuel Alito raised concerns about potential viewpoint discrimination under the law.<\/p>\n<p>This case is considered a significant First Amendment test involving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/states-push-to-rein-in-big-tech-as-federal-gears-grind-slow\/\" title=\"States Push to Rein in Big Tech as Federal Gears Grind Slow\">free speech rights<\/a> versus LGBT protections. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling by June 2026. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Supreme Court skeptical of Colorado&rsquo;s &lsquo;conversion therapy&rsquo; ban<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2239328\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supreme Court<\/a> justices grilled lawyers for Colorado on Tuesday over the state&rsquo;s argument that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >counselors giving talk therapy<\/a> should be subject to the same medical regulations as doctors, banning so-called &ldquo;conversion therapy,&rdquo; and are therefore not subject to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/first-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">First Amendment<\/a> protections.<\/p>\n<p>In <em>Chiles v. Salazar<\/em>, the justices heard a case involving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3820486\/advocates-warn-colorado-conversion-therapy-ban-supreme-court-blatant-censorship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kaley Chiles<\/a>, a licensed counselor in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colorado\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colorado<\/a>, who claims that the state&rsquo;s law banning &ldquo;conversion therapy&rdquo; unlawfully censors her ability to speak with children and families who seek her out by prohibiting her from trying to dissuade children from changing their gender identities or sexual orientations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3839493\/colorado-conversion-therapy-case-to-test-free-speech-vs-lgbt-rights\/\">Colorado &#8216;conversion therapy&#8217; case to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chief-twit-elon-musk-is-the-latest-target-for-leftist-hollywood-elite\/\" title=\"\u2018Chief Twit\u2019 Elon Musk Is The Latest Target For Leftist Hollywood Elite\">test free speech<\/a> vs. LGBT rights<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3838757\/supreme-court-skeptical-allowing-lawyer-client-coaching-overnight-trial-recess\/\">Supreme Court skeptical of allowing lawyer-client &#8216;coaching&#8217; during overnight trial recess<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3838447\/supreme-court-ghislaine-maxwell-reject-appeal-epstein-plea-deal\/\">Supreme Court rejects Ghislaine Maxwell&rsquo;s appeal of Epstein plea deal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Chiles argued that the law violates her free speech rights, while Colorado defended it as regulating healthcare &mdash; a contention the justices appeared skeptical of during oral arguments.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Clarence Thomas opened the questioning of Colorado Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson by asking why licensed counselors such as Chiles were subject to the restrictions, while ministers and life coaches were not.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is the relationship between a healthcare provider and the patient that establishes this special context,&rdquo; Stevenson said. &ldquo;If you go to a life coach, or you go to someone else, they&rsquo;re not licensed by the state, you&rsquo;re not expecting them to be complying with standards of care. You have a different expectation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re going to see a licensed healthcare professional, who owes you fiduciary duties, your expectations are different,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re expecting information that is complying with the standard of care and not expecting the practitioner to just be exercising their right to say whatever they want to say.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Justice Elena Kagan later questioned Colorado&rsquo;s argument in favor of holding counselors offering talk therapy and doctors offering medical advice to the same standards.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Are you saying that there&rsquo;s no distinction between what we&rsquo;re dealing with here and the range of things that a doctor can tell you in her office about what kind of care is appropriate for any particular condition?&rdquo; Kagan asked, to which Stevenson responded that, in the state&rsquo;s view, there is not &ldquo;any distinction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Justice Samuel Alito also questioned how Colorado&rsquo;s law was not &ldquo;blatant viewpoint discrimination.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3839493\/colorado-conversion-therapy-case-to-test-free-speech-vs-lgbt-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COLORADO &lsquo;CONVERSION THERAPY&rsquo; CASE TO TEST FREE SPEECH VS. LGBT RIGHTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tuesday&rsquo;s case marked the first major arguments of the new term, with later significant cases before the term including challenges to President Donald Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;Liberation Day&rdquo; tariffs and race-based redistricting.<\/p>\n<p>The high court is expected to release its decision in <em>Chiles v. Salazar<\/em> sometime before the end of June 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court doubts Colorado&#8217;s ban on &#8216;conversion therapy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2495729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25178552492376-1.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7008,6024,51855,32275],"class_list":["post-2495728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ban","tag-colorado","tag-conversion-therapy","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AP25178552492376-1.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2495728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2495728"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2495728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2495732,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2495728\/revisions\/2495732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2495729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2495728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2495728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2495728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}