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Missoula Judge Rules Montana Must Issue Correct Licenses to Nonbinary Drivers
Judge Vannatta ruled the state discriminated against a nonbinary minor by denying a license, ordering changes and awarding attorney fees due to violation of Montana law and constitution.
- On Thursday, Missoula County District Court Judge Shane Vannatta ruled that the Montana Department of Justice must issue a driver's license to an applicant who wrote a nonbinary sex marker to match their birth certificate.
- The dispute began at the Montana Human Rights Bureau after M.B. handwrote 'NB' on a paper license application, but the Motor Vehicle Division declined to process it, citing a database limited to male or female despite the bidding process offering other options.
- Citing the state's Human Rights Act and equal protection clause, Shane Vannatta, Missoula County District Court Judge, ruled denying a license to M.B. violates Montana's equal protection clause and awarded attorney's fees.
- The court barred the Motor Vehicle Division from denying licenses to applicants who indicate their legal sex, while the Montana Department of Justice criticized the ruling and said it planned to appeal on Friday.
- The court ruled that software change costs, estimated at $30,000 to $50,000, do not justify denying licenses to nonbinary residents, amid pending Montana cases on sex designations.
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Judge orders Montana DMV to issue driver’s license to youth who applied as nonbinary
A Missoula District Court judge concluded the Montana Department of Justice discriminated by failing to approve a license application with a sex marker that matched the youth’s birth certificate. A DOJ spokesman indicated the state will appeal.
ABC FOX Montana+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Judge rules Montana DMV discriminated against nonbinary residents, orders changes
A Missoula County District Court ruled that the state’s refusal to issue a driver’s license to a nonbinary minor violates the Montana Constitution and that attorneys for the Montana Attorney General’s Office also misinterpreted state law by refusing the license…
·Missoula, United States
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Total News Sources9
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
L 25%
C 75%
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