加州总检察长邦塔加入18州联盟提交法庭之友简报：支持华盛顿州未成年离家者庇护与医疗法律
加利福尼亚州总检察长 Rob Bonta 于10月28日加入由18名州总检察长组成的联盟，就 International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v. Ferguson 一案向美国最高法院提交法庭之友简报，支持华盛顿州关于离家未成年人在持牌青少年无家可归者庇护所接受庇护与医疗照护的法律，主张挑战这些法律的家长群体不具备诉讼资格。
2023年11月，一批家长在美国华盛顿西区联邦地区法院起诉华盛顿州，主张该州关于「持牌青少年无家可归者庇护所收留离家未成年人时的家长通知」法律——包括华盛顿州修订法典第71.34.530条、参议院第5599号法案与众议院第1406号替代法案——侵犯其宪法权利、干涉其抚养子女的能力。地区法院驳回了起诉，第九巡回上诉法院维持原判，案件现由美国最高法院审理。
联盟在简报中提出三点主张：其一，起诉的家长未提供足够证据证明其具备正当的诉讼资格；其二，若接受家长方的主张，将创下使父母权利优先于其他宪法权利的判例例外；其三，这起诉讼威胁各州保护本州未成年居民福祉的正当利益。联盟请求最高法院再次维持地区法院驳回起诉的裁定。
「逃离困境家庭生活的未成年人，理应得到妥善保护并获得关键的医疗救治，」邦塔说。「华盛顿州这类法律让持牌青少年无家可归者庇护所照护寻求庇护的未成年人，同时也承认父母在子女生活中的重要角色。挑战这些法律的人与法律没有直接利害关系、也不受其影响。加州将继续致力于守护青少年的身心健康，同时尊重父母的权利。」
与邦塔共同提交简报的还有马萨诸塞州、科罗拉多州、特拉华州、哥伦比亚特区、夏威夷州、伊利诺伊州、缅因州、马里兰州、密歇根州、明尼苏达州、内华达州、新泽西州、新墨西哥州、纽约州、俄勒冈州、罗得岛州和佛蒙特州的总检察长。
California AG Bonta Joins 18-State Amicus Brief Backing Washington Laws on Shelter and Care for Runaway Minors
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on October 28 joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v. Ferguson, supporting Washington State's laws governing shelter and medical care for runaway minors at licensed youth homeless shelters and arguing that the parents challenging the laws lack legal standing.
In November 2023, a group of parents sued Washington in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, asserting that the state's laws on parental notification when a minor seeks refuge at a licensed youth homeless shelter — Wash. Rev. Code § 71.34.530, Engrossed Senate Bill 5599, and Substitute House Bill 1406 — violate their constitutional rights by interfering with their ability to parent. The district court dismissed the complaint, the Ninth Circuit affirmed, and the case is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The coalition's brief makes three arguments: the suing parents have not shown adequate evidence of legitimate legal standing; accepting their complaint would create an exception giving parental rights preferential treatment over other constitutional rights; and the lawsuit threatens states' legitimate interest in protecting the well-being of their child residents. The coalition urges the Supreme Court to affirm the dismissal.
"Minors fleeing from difficult home lives deserve to receive proper protection and access to crucial medical treatment," Bonta said. "State laws like those in Washington allow licensed youth homeless shelters to care for minors seeking refuge while acknowledging the important role parents play in their children's lives. These laws are being challenged by individuals who have no direct stake in, and who are unaffected by, the challenged laws. California remains committed to safeguarding our youths' physical and mental well-being while respecting parents' rights."
Joining Bonta in the brief are the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：位于华盛顿的美国最高法院大楼（素材库 federal-core 固定图）。GSM 素材库。 / The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington. GSM asset library (federal-core pack).
