Melody Rodgers v. US, No. 23-1214 (4th Cir. 2023)

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 23-1214 MELODY RODGERS, Plaintiff - Appellant, and BRANDEE RITSEMA; LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; LORA BYERS; OCERINE COOPER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1162 BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY 2 BORGHESE; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; LORA BYERS; OCERINE COOPER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW 3 YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1216 EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL, Plaintiffs - Appellants, and BRANDEE RITSEMA; LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; JESSICA KIRBY; DANIEL BLUE; BRENDA BLUE; KATHRINE THOMAS; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; LORA BYERS; OCERINE COOPER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family 4 Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1219 JESSICA KIRBY, Plaintiff - Appellant, and BRANDEE RITSEMA; LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; 5 ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; LORA BYERS; OCERINE COOPER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY 6 KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1248 KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenor/Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; JESSICA KIRBY; BRANDEE RITSEMA; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; LORA BYERS; OCERINE COOPER, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK 7 B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1250 LORA BYERS, Intervenor/Plaintiff - Appellant, and 8 LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; JESSICA KIRBY; BRANDEE RITSEMA; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; OCERINE COOPER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE 9 COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1253 OCERINE COOPER, Intervenor/Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; JESSICA KIRBY; BRANDEE RITSEMA; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, AUDREY Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. 10 LESSNER; LORA BYERS; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1256 KATHRINE THOMAS, 11 Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; JESSICA KIRBY; BRANDEE RITSEMA; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; LORA BYERS; OCERINE COOPER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., 12 a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1257 TIJANA VIDANOVIC, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, 13 v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1258 14 RENESHA TOMLIN, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the 15 Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1260 SALLY BORGHESE, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, 16 Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. 17 No. 23-1261 KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of 18 Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1264 MALACHI CHAPMAN, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, 19 and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, 20 Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1265 KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KRISTEN CLARKHASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of 21 Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1266 BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE, Plaintiffs - Appellants, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRANDEE RITSEMA, 22 Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; 23 BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1268 CHRISTINA ANDERSON, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; 24 GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1269 SARA YBARRA-JOHNSON, Intervenor/Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA 25 HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA; ALAN MEDDOWS, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS; KARLA JOHNSON, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY 26 MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1270 KARLA JOHNSON, Intervenor/Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA; ALAN MEDDOWS, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS; SARA YBARRA-JOHNSON, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK 27 B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1271 BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS, Intervenor/Plaintiff - Appellant, and 28 LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA; ALAN MEDDOWS, Plaintiffs, and AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS; KARLA JOHNSON; SARA YBARRA-JOHNSON, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY 29 COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1272 ALAN MEDDOWS, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS; KARLA JOHNSON; SARA YBARRAJOHNSON, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. 30 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1273 APRIL FOX, 31 Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; ALAN MEDDOWS; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS; KARLA JOHNSON; SARA YBARRAJOHNSON, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the 32 Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1283 TERESA GOIN, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; ALAN MEDDOWS; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and 33 BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. 34 No. 23-1284 GERRI F. HOOD, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; ALAN MEDDOWS; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of 35 Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1285 BARBARA MAST, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; ALAN MEDDOWS; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, 36 Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; 37 BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1286 LATASHA WOOLRIDGE, Plaintiff - Appellant, and LAURIE REYNOLDS; CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; ALAN MEDDOWS; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former 38 Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. No. 23-1287 LAURIE REYNOLDS, Plaintiff - Appellant, and CECELIA EVERTEZ; RAYMOND SIPULT; GLENDA CODY; RUSS E. CODY; KEONA BRADLEY; ELIZABETH ANDREWS; MELODY RODGERS; EMILY O’DELL; WILLIAM O’DELL; MALACHI CHAPMAN; TIJANA VIDANOVIC; 39 RENESHA TOMLIN; KESHIA HOLLIMAN, a/k/a Keshia Horton; KRISTEN CLARK-HASSEL; SALLY BORGHESE; ALAN MEDDOWS; CHRISTINA ANDERSON; JESSICA KIRBY; KATHRINE THOMAS; BRENDA BLUE; DANIEL BLUE; BRANDEE RITSEMA, Plaintiffs, and BEATRICE RIVERA ADAMS; AUDREY LESSNER; KIMBERLY VIFINKLE; OCERINE COOPER; LORA BYERS, Intervenors/Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JOE BIDEN, President of the United States Department; KAMALA D. HARRIS, Vice President of the United States; XAVIER BECERRA, United States Department of Health and Human Services; MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States; JERRY MILNER, Director of the Children's Bureau for the Administration for Children and Families; DOES, United States Assistant Secretaries for Administration for Children and Family Services; GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of California; JERRY BROWN, Former Governor of California; ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Lieutenant Governor of California; GREG ABOTT, Governor of Texas; DAN PATRICK, Lieutenant Governor of Texas; SUSANA MARTINEZ, Former Governor of New Mexico; MICHELLE LUJAN-GRISHAW, Governor of New Mexico; DOUG DUCEY, Governor of Arizona; RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida; TOM WOLF, Governor of Pennsylvania; BRIAN KEMP, Governor of Georgia; BILL LEE, Governor of Tennessee; MICHAEL DUNLEAVY, Governor of Alaska; KATHLEEN LAURA KELLY, Governor of Kansas; KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of New York; GRETCHEN WHITMER, Governor of Michigan; JACKEY LACEY, Governor of Los Angeles County; ROB BONTA, Attorney General of Los Angeles County; KEN PAXTON, Attorney General of Texas; JAIMIE MASTERS, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Child Protective Services; WILLIAM CLARK, President of Saint Francis Ministries; ST. FRANCIS MINISTRIES; KIDS CENTRAL INC., a/k/a The Centers Inc.; MARICOPA COUNTY ARIZONA; SEBASTIAN COUNTY ARKANSAS; SCOTT COUNTY ARKANSAS; LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA; RIVERSIDE COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MONTEREY COUNTY CALIFORNIA; MARION COUNTY FLORIDA; MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA; ST. LUCIE COUNTY FLORIDA; CAMDEN COUNTY GEORGIA; LAURENS COUNTY GEORGIA; HUTCHINSON COUNTY KANSAS; SEDGWICK COUNTY KANSAS; ST. MARYS COUNTY 40 MARYLAND; KENT COUNTY MICHIGAN; OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN; BERNALILLO COUNTY NEW MEXICO; KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK; MONROE COUNTY NEW YORK; WASHINGTON COUNTY OHIO; ALLEGHANY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; MCLENNAN COUNTY TEXAS; BELL COUNTY TEXAS; WICHITA COUNTY TEXAS; BLOUNT COUNTY TENNESSEE, Defendants - Appellees. Appeals from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at Wilmington. Louise W. Flanagan, District Judge. (7:22-cv-00178-FL) Submitted: July 25, 2023 Decided: July 27, 2023 Before WYNN and HEYTENS, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD, Senior Circuit Judge. Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Melody Rodgers; Brandee Ritsema; Emily O’Dell; William O’Dell; Jessica Kirby; Kimberly Vifinkle; Lora Byers; Ocerine Cooper; Kathrine Thomas; Tijana Vidanovic; Renesha Tomlin; Sally Borghese; Kristen Clark-Hassell; Malachi Chapman; Keshia Holliman; Brenda Blue; Daniel Blue; Christina Anderson; Sara Elizabeth Ybarra Johnson; Karla Johnson; Beatrice Rivera; Alan Meddows; April Fox; Teresa Goin; Gerri F. Hood; Barbara Mast; Latasha Woolridge; Laurie Reynolds, Appellants Pro Se. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. 41 PER CURIAM: In these consolidated appeals, Appellants seek to appeal the district court’s orders dismissing some appellants as plaintiffs, denying others’ motions to intervene as plaintiffs, and denying reconsideration of those orders. This court may exercise jurisdiction only over final orders, 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and certain interlocutory and collateral orders, 28 U.S.C. § 1292; Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b); Cohen v. Beneficial Indus. Loan Corp., 337 U.S. 541, 54546 (1949). The orders Appellants seek to appeal are neither final orders nor appealable interlocutory or collateral orders. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeals for lack of jurisdiction and deny as moot the pending motions for leave to file an amicus curiae brief, to expedite the decision, and to extend filing time. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. DISMISSED 42

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.