South Dakota – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praised a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Tuesday that allows South Dakota and other states to ban transgender students from playing on female sports teams.

The high court’s ruling impacts athletic policies across the state, ensuring that school districts, including those in Rapid City, maintain compliance with existing state measures.

“This ruling protects our female athletes,” Jackley said. “South Dakota has been a leader in recognizing women play women sports, and the US Supreme Court upholds that legislation.”

Jackley had signed onto two cases that restricted participation in women’s sports to biological females. Both cases were part of the Supreme Court’s decision.

South Dakota law prohibits transgender girls and women from participating on female school athletic teams. The legislation requires students to compete on teams corresponding to their sex assigned at birth. The federal ruling solidifies these mandates for educational institutions and sports programs throughout the Rapid City area.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling can be found here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-43_2b35.pdf