Judge delays hearing on Rady’s gender care, director of center quits

A Superior Court judge agreed Thursday to postpone the next scheduled hearing in the state Attorney General’s gender-affirming care lawsuit against Rady Children’s Hospital, ordering that the temporary restraining order that restored therapy earlier this month remain in effect.

While court records indicate that the delay is administrative in nature, it nonetheless provides an additional 48 days before Judge Matthew Braner will hear arguments on whether Rady should be required to maintain gender services or reinstitute its decision made on Jan. 20 to stop providing procedures and prescriptions under heavy pressure from the federal government.

The extra time before the issue is once again up for debate is appreciated, said Kathie Moehlig, executive of TransFamily Support Services, a San Diego-based advocacy group.

“We have been working closely with the staff at the clinic to get as many families the care they need as quickly as we can,” Moehlig said in an email. “Of course, there are still delays with insurance approvals and such, but this new 60-day window will be helpful for many families.”

Braner’s order moved the next scheduled hearing from March 10 to April 27, a change of 48 days, but referenced 60 days in the court document, apparently counting forward from Thursday, Feb. 26.

California Attorney G...