School Board Accused of Contempt of Court for Violating Federal Court Order to Reinstate Teachers

The educators were ‘vilified, harassed, and targeted’ for refusing to comply with secret gender transition policies, their attorney says.

(L–R) Teacher Lori Ann West, attorney Paul Jonna, and teacher Elizabeth Mirabelli. A federal judge on Sept. 14 blocked a school district in Escondido, Calif., from punishing the two teachers for refusing to keep gender transitions of students secret from their parents. Courtesy of Paul Jonna

Attorneys for two California teachers have asked a U.S. district court to hold local school board officials and certain staff in contempt of court for allegedly defying a federal court order allowing the teachers to return to work.

The teachers, Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, sued Escondido Union School District and Rincon Middle School in April over a policy regarding secret gender transitions of students they claim violates their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religion.