Court Reconsiders Parents' Free-Exercise Challenge to School's Preferred-Name Policy

A federal judge in Michigan has agreed to revisit a dismissed free-exercise claim by Dan and Jennifer Mead, who argue that a school district’s policy of using students’ self-identified names and pronouns violates their religious rights.

Dan and Jennifer Mead brought a lawsuit against the Rockford Public School District, alleging that the district’s guidelines encouraging staff to use students’ preferred names and gender pronouns infringed on the Meads’ religious belief that biological sex is immutable. After the district complied with their child G.M.'s request to be called by a different name and pronouns, the Meads withdrew the child and filed suit, which was partially dismissed in August 2025, including the free-exercise claim.

In March 2026 the Supreme Court issued a per curiam opinion in Mirabelli v. Bonta, addressing a similar policy and finding that such rules likely fail strict scrutiny. Relying on Mirabelli, the Michigan district court granted the Meads’ motion for reconsideration, concluding that the district’s policy may impose a substantial burden on religious exercise and should be examined under the highest level of judicial review.

The court noted that the policy does not compel belief or action but does exclude parents from decisions about their child’s gender presentation, a point the Supreme Court highlighted as problematic. Defendants argue the rule is narrowly tailored to promote student safety and privacy, but the judge now views the policy as potentially unconstitutional. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom.