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PUBLICATION","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"S.D., individually and on behalf of all","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"others similarly situated; J.F.,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"Plaintiffs - Appellees,","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"MIKE REESE; RYAN LEGORE;","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"MARK NOOTH; ERIN REYES;","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"STATE OF OREGON, by and","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"through the Oregon Department of","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"Corrections; JEREMY WAGNER,","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Defendants - Appellants,","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"JOHN DOES, 1-5,","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"Defendant.","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"No. 26-4872","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"D.C. No.","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"6:25-cv-01726-CL","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"Appeal from the United States District Court","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"for the District of Oregon","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"Mark D. Clarke, Magistrate Judge, Presiding","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"Argued and Submitted August 27, 2026","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"Pasadena, California","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"Filed September 17, 2026","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"2 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"Before: Daniel P. Collins, Lawrence VanDyke, and Eric C.","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"Tung, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"Opinion by Judge Tung","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"SUMMARY*","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"Preliminary Injunction / Class Certification","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"The panel 1) vacated the district court’s preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"injunction requiring, in part, that the State of Oregon","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"presumptively assign more than a hundred transgender","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"women prison inmates for placement in the only state-run","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"women’s prison in Oregon, and 2) remanded with","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"instructions to decertify the class.","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"Plaintiffs J.F. and S.D., transgender women inmates,","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"brought a class action against the State of Oregon and","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"Department of Corrections officials (Defendants), alleging,","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"in part, violations of the Eighth Amendment for Defendants’","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"purported failure to guard against Plaintiffs’ alleged","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"exposure to a substantial risk of harm in men’s prisons.","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"Plaintiffs sought a preliminary mandatory injunction on","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"behalf of a class of all current and future transgender women","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"in Oregon Department of Corrections facilities, and asked to","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"be presumptively assigned to the women’s prison. The","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"* This summary constitutes no part of the opinion of the court. It has","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the reader.","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 3","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"district court granted Plaintiffs’ motion and provisionally","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"certified a class.","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"The panel vacated the district court’s preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"mandatory injunction, holding that Plaintiffs failed to show","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"that they are likely to succeed on the merits because they","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"cannot show that the law and facts clearly favor their","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"position.","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"First, the injunction was based on a flawed premise that","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"Defendants did not conduct “individualized assessments”","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"but rather applied a “default presumption” that placed","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"Plaintiffs and class members in men’s prisons. The panel","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"wrote that that premise lacks record support and is clearly","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"erroneous, and that the district court disregarded contrary","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"evidence presented by Defendants.","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"Second, even assuming such a default presumption","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"existed, the record does not support the district court’s","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"conclusion that the presumption reflected Defendants’","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"Plaintiffs and other class members—a prerequisite to","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"establishing an Eighth Amendment violation.","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"Finally, the injunction ordered class-wide relief that was","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"based on an improperly certified class. Plaintiffs failed to","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"satisfy all the Rule 23 prerequisites, where they failed to","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"show by a preponderance of the evidence that the class","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"members’ alleged harms, their varying degrees of harm, and","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"the source of their harms are “common” to all class","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"members, or that Defendants acted in a uniform way with","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"deliberate indifference toward each of the class members.","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"While Plaintiffs’ failure to establish a likelihood of","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"success is enough to warrant vacatur of the preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"injunction, the panel further held that the remaining Winter","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"4 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"factors—irreparable harm, the balance of equities, and the","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"public interest—reinforce that conclusion.","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"Given the risk that delay could moot the appeal, the panel","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"instructed that the mandate shall issue forthwith.","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"COUNSEL","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"John D. Burgess (argued) and Carl L. Post, Snyder Post &","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"Burgess, Portland, Oregon; Abby Greenfield, Law Office of","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"Katharine Edwards, Hillsboro, Oregon; for Plaintiffs-","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"Appellees.","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"Ariel T. Ashtamker (argued), Assistant Attorney General;","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"Robert A. Koch, Attorney-in-Charge, Civil &","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"Administrative Appeals; Paul L. Smith, Solicitor General;","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"Dan Rayfield, Oregon Attorney General, Office of the","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"Oregon Attorney General, Salem, Oregon; for Defendants-","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"Appellants.","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 5","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"OPINION","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"TUNG, Circuit Judge","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"The district court in this case issued a class-wide","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"preliminary injunction requiring (among other things) that","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"the State of Oregon presumptively assign more than a","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"hundred “transgender women” prison inmates (male inmates","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"who claim to be female) for placement in the only state-run","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"women’s prison in Oregon. The State of Oregon and","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"Department of Corrections officials (Defendants) appealed.","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"Defendants contend that the district court based its","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"injunction on a clearly erroneous finding that Defendants","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"applied a “default presumption” that “transgender” inmates","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"be assigned to men’s prisons. That “presumption,” in the","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"district court’s view, exposed those inmates to a substantial","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"risk of harm in violation of the Eighth Amendment. We","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"agree with Defendants that the district court committed clear","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"error. The record does not support the district court’s finding","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"that Defendants applied a “presumption.” Nor does the","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"record justify class-wide relief. We vacate the preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"injunction and direct that the class be decertified.","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"I.","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"Plaintiffs J.F. and S.D. brought a class action against","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"Defendants. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Eighth","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"Amendment (and other causes of action not relevant here)","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"for Defendants’ purported failure to guard against Plaintiffs’","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"alleged exposure to a substantial risk of harm in men’s","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"prisons. Plaintiffs, claiming to be “transgender women”","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"inmates, sought a preliminary mandatory injunction on","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"behalf of a class of “all current and future transgender","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"women in [Oregon Department of Corrections (‘ODOC’)]","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"facilities.” 3-ER-316. Plaintiffs asked, among other things,","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"6 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"to be presumptively assigned to the women’s prison. 3-ER-","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"377.","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"The district court (Clarke, Magistrate Judge) granted the","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"motion and provisionally certified a class. 1-ER-16. The","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"district court acknowledged that issuance of a mandatory","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"injunction must clear a high bar—that “the law and the facts","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"clearly favor Plaintiffs’ position.” S.D. v. Rees, No. 6:25-","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"CV-01726-CL, 2026 WL 1146591, at *8 (D. Or. Apr. 28,","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"2026) (emphasis added). In the district court’s view, that","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"burden was met with respect to Plaintiffs’ Eighth","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"Amendment claims. Id. at *8–11, 13. Defendants filed a","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"motion for reconsideration. 2-ER-110–139. The district","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"court denied reconsideration in part and granted it in part,","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"issuing an amended preliminary injunction that largely","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"tracks Plaintiffs’ requests with a few exceptions not relevant","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"here. See S.D. v. Rees by & through the Oregon Dep’t of","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"Corr., No. 6:25-CV-01726-CL, 2026 WL 1960717, at *6 (D.","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"Or. July 7, 2026). The revised mandatory injunction requires","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"that Defendants:","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"1. Immediately end the categorical housing","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"of transgender women in men’s facilities","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"without individualized safety","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"assessments and instead conduct prompt,","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"case-by-case housing and classification","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"reviews for all transgender women in","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"ODOC custody. The starting point for","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"each assessment shall begin with a","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"presumption of placement consistent with","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"each person’s gender identity, absent a","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"documented and articulable security","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"justification. Then, the assessment shall","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"take into consideration the AIC’s [adult-","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 7","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"in-custody’s] preferences, their privacy,","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"access to medical support, programming,","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"support-network, safety, or other","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"individualized reasons for placement in","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"any particular facility.","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"2. Provide safe, non-punitive housing","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"options for transgender women, including","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"(as appropriate) transfer to CCCF [Coffee","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"Creek Correctional Facility] [the","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"women’s facility], voluntary transgender","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"or gender non-conforming housing units","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"within existing facilities, or other","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"protective placements that do not involve","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"involuntary segregation or loss of","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"programming solely because of","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"transgender status.","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"3. Prohibit housing transgender women","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"with cisgender cellmates known to have a","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"history of sexual or serious physical","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"violence.","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"4. Ensure that transgender women have","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"access to separate showers or shower","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"schedules that provide reasonable bodily","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"privacy from male prisoners and staff and","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"implement policies to prevent forced","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"exposure of nude bodies to male inmates.","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"5. Require that unclothed searches of","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"transgender women be conducted by","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"female staff absent extraordinary,","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"8 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"documented circumstances and prohibit","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"cross-gender strip searches otherwise.","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"6. Implement immediate, confidential, and","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"non-retaliatory reporting mechanisms for","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"sexual abuse, harassment, and threats,","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"including effective [Prison Rape","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"Elimination Act] PREA-compliant","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"hotline access and prompt, good-faith","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"investigations of all such reports with","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"measures to protect reporters from","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"retaliation.","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"7. Provide interim mental health support,","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"include crisis counseling, for transgender","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"women who report sexual abuse or","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"exhibit suicidality related to unsafe","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"housing or retaliation.","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"8. An AIC may decline any of these","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"protections with informed, voluntary","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"consent after a meaningful review of","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"options.","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"1-ER-3–4.","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"Defendants appealed and sought emergency relief. We","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"granted Defendants’ request for a stay of the preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"injunction, and of all district court proceedings, pending","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"appeal. Stay Order at 1 (No. 26-4872), Aug. 20, 2026. We","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"now address the merits of the preliminary injunction.","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"II.","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"“A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"never awarded as of right.” Winter v. Nat. Res. Def. Council,","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 24 (2008). To obtain that remedy, a plaintiff","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 9","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"must satisfy four factors: (1) “that he is likely to succeed on","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"the merits”; (2) “that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"in the absence of preliminary relief”; (3) “that the balance of","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"equities tips in his favor”; and (4) “that an injunction is in","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"the public interest.” Id. at 20. “We review an order","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"regarding preliminary injunctive relief for abuse of","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"discretion, but review any underlying issues of law de novo.”","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"Norbert v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 10 F.4th 918, 927","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"(9th Cir. 2021) (citation omitted). An abuse of discretion","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"occurs when the district court’s “decision relies on an","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"erroneous legal standard or clearly erroneous finding of","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"fact.” Arc of Cal. v. Douglas, 757 F.3d 975, 983 (9th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"2014) (internal quotation marks omitted). And a finding is","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"clearly erroneous if it is “illogical, implausible, or without","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"support in inferences that may be drawn from the facts in the","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"record.” Id. (citation omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"Plaintiffs fail to show that they are likely to succeed on","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"the merits. The remaining Winter factors weigh against them","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"too. Accordingly, the district court’s preliminary injunction,","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"resting on a contrary conclusion, must be vacated.","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"A.","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"Whether Plaintiffs are “likely to succeed on the merits”","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"is “the most important factor.” California v. Azar, 911 F.3d","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"558, 575 (9th Cir. 2018) (internal quotation marks omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"Plaintiffs’ burden “is doubly demanding” in defending a","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"mandatory injunction: They “must establish that the law and","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"facts clearly favor [their] position, not simply that [they are]","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"likely to succeed.” Garcia v. Google, Inc., 786 F.3d 733,","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"740 (9th Cir. 2015) (en banc); see also Stanley v. Univ. of S.","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"Cal., 13 F.3d 1313, 1320 (9th Cir. 1994) (“A mandatory","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"injunction goes well beyond simply maintaining the status","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"10 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"quo pendente lite [and] is particularly disfavored.” (citation","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"omitted)).","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"Plaintiffs cannot show that the law and facts clearly","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"favor their position. First, the injunction was based on a","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"flawed premise that Defendants employed a “default","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"presumption” of placing Plaintiffs (and class members) in","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"men’s prisons. Second, even assuming such a default","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"presumption existed, the record does not support the district","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"court’s conclusion that the presumption produced a","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"substantial risk of harm that Defendants were deliberately","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"indifferent toward. Finally, the injunction ordered class-","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"wide relief that was based on an improperly certified class.","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"1.","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"The district court based its injunction on the following","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"premise: Defendants did not conduct “individualized","paragraph_id":"para_271"},{"text":"assessments” but rather applied a “default presumption” that","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"placed Plaintiffs and class members in men’s prisons. S.D.,","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"2026 WL 1146591, at *1 (“It is undisputed in the record","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"before the Court that this default presumption, and their","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"overwhelming placement in men’s prisons, has exposed","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"transgender women inmates to a high risk of violence and","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"sexual assault.”); id. at *10 (“[A] major cause of both the","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"known higher risk of violence and the violence itself, was","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"due to the default housing placement of transgender women","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"in men’s prison facilities.”). That premise lacks record","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"support and is clearly erroneous. The district court","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"improperly disregarded the overwhelming contrary evidence","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"presented by Defendants in favor of baseless speculation.","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"In contending below that Plaintiffs failed to carry their","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"burden to substantiate their claim that Defendants applied a","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"default presumption that assigned class members to men’s","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"prisons, Defendants submitted declarations and policy","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 11","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"documents explaining the individualized process that ODOC","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"uses to place “transgender” inmates. Newly admitted","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"inmates are “assessed within 72 hours of arrival . . . and","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"again within 30 days to determine whether they meet","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"specific criteria indicating either vulnerability or likelihood","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"of perpetrating sexual abuse.” OB, Add–6. Newly admitted","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"inmates who claim “transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, or","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"intersex” status are “placed in the infirmary until” a","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"committee “can gather all necessary information to decide","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"placement,” which takes about a week. 2-ER-240. Inmates","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"already in custody but who later “come forward to identify","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"as transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, or intersex remain in","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"their current facility until [the committee] reviews and","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"makes a placement determination.” 2-ER-240. “When","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"determining appropriate and safe housing, committee","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"members will consider: the AIC’s [adult-in-custody’s]","paragraph_id":"para_305"},{"text":"medical history; the AIC’s mental health status; how the AIC","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"self-identifies; the safety of the AIC, other AICs, and staff;","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"observation of the AIC’s behaviors; and any other relevant","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"information. Each housing placement is individualized and","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"determined on a case-by-case basis.” 2-ER-239.","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"In a further effort to refute Plaintiffs’ claim of a “default","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"presumption,” Defendants submitted records summarizing","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"their placement decisions, which are not disputed.","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"Defendants stated that “[t]here are currently 117 transgender","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"women AICs” (male inmates claiming to be women)","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"“housed in ODOC prisons, 26 of the 117 have requested to","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"be housed at the [women’s prison], and 8 are currently","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"housed” there. 2-ER-240.1 “Not all transgender female","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"AICs want to be housed at [the women’s prison],”","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"1 Defendants later submitted a supplemental declaration that identified","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"123 “trans-female” inmates. 2-ER-147.","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"12 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"Defendants represented. 2-ER-240. “Some transgender","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"female AICs specifically request placement at men’s","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"facilities, for a variety of reasons, and may be granted such","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"placement when it is appropriate.” 2-ER-240. “Based upon","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"our current tracking information,” Defendants said,","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"“approximately 22 transgender women total have been","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"housed at” the women’s prison. 2-ER-240.","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"In addition, Defendants presented evidence concerning","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"individual placements, which they contended further","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"confirmed that ODOC did not apply any default","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"presumption. In particular, Defendants described the","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"placement decision made with respect to the only named","paragraph_id":"para_334"},{"text":"Plaintiff (J.F.) who remains in custody. 2 Plaintiff J.F.","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"entered the Department’s custody in 2008 and identified “as","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"transgender” in 2015. 2-ER-240. J.F. requested transfer to","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"a women’s prison in 2021 but was “not eligible to transfer","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":". . . due to safety concerns of the [female inmates]” at the","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"women’s prison. 2-ER-240. J.F. was","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"incarcerated for a sex offense against a","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"disabled female victim who was in the care of","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":". . . J.F.’s mother; the victim had physical","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"limitations and was unable to communicate.","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"The victim had to have surgery to remove an","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"11-inch plastic object that was lodged in her","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"abdomen by J.F., who lodged it into her","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"abdomen via the victim’s vagina. The","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"victim’s injuries were potentially fatal.","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"2 The other named Plaintiff (S.D.) is no longer in custody. See S.D., 2026","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"WL 1146591, at *4 n.1.","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 13","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"2-ER-240–241.","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"Decisions concerning other inmates also clearly reflect","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"individualized review. Defendants pointed to their handling","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"of a transfer request made by L.B., who had “sexually","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"abused a young niece and physically assaulted a girlfriend","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"by grabbing her throat and pushing her up against a wall.”","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"2-ER-255. As Defendants explained, “L.B.’s request was","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"denied due to [L.B.’s] assaultive history toward women.” 2-","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"ER-255. In another example, Defendants acceded to inmate","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"Doe’s request to be transferred to the women’s prison. 2-","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"ER-255. Months after the transfer, however, Doe was","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"returned to a men’s prison after displaying “aggressive”","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"behavior toward the women inmates, including calling them","paragraph_id":"para_365"},{"text":"“derogatory names (‘bitches’, ‘whores’),” and grabbing","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"Doe’s own “[male] genitals” when walking by women","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"inmates; moreover, Doe “request[ed] to return to a male","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"facility.” 2-ER-256. Two and a half years later, Doe","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"received a “vulvoplasty” and is now back in the women’s","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"prison. 2-ER-256.","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"Neither the district court nor Plaintiffs contested these","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"facts, which undermine Plaintiffs’ assertion that Defendants","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"applied a default presumption. The district court","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"nevertheless inferred a “default presumption” from the mere","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"fact that “more than 90% of transgender women are housed","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"in men’s facilities.” S.D., 2026 WL 1146591, at *1; see also","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"id. at *10 (finding a default presumption of “placement in","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"men’s facilities” based solely on the fact that “eight out of","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"117 total transgender AICs are placed at CCCF, which is less","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"than seven percent”). That inference is groundless. The","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"district court assumed that, if the process were truly","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"individualized, it would not have produced an outcome that","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":"was, in the court’s view, this lopsided. But no evidence","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"supports the district court’s speculation about how many","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"14 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"transgender inmates “should” have ended up in women’s","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"prisons under an individualized review. Indeed, the record","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"refutes it. For example, uncontested evidence showed that","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"only 26 “transgender inmates” (out of 117) requested","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"transfer to the women’s prison, and 8 of them were","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"transferred. The low rate of transfer requests cannot be","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"squared with the district court’s baseless assumption that,","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"under an individualized-assessment system, there would be","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"a much higher rate of actual placement into the women’s","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"prison.","paragraph_id":"para_396"},{"text":"The district court admitted to giving “little weight” to the","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"low number of transfer requests, but its only reason for doing","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"so was that it had “no information about the other 91","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"[inmates], including whether they [we]re aware that","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"requesting a transfer is required, or that it is even an option,","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"to be considered for housing at [the women’s facility].” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"at *10. The district court’s rationale is legally flawed","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"because it ignores the burden of proof. Plaintiffs bore the","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"burden of proving the default presumption, and any gaps in","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"the evidence therefore counted against them rather than (as","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"the district court would have it) in their favor. Plaintiffs","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"might have sought to show that the other 91 inmates who did","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"not request transfer were not aware of the option or did not","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"know how to make such a request. Rather than hold","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"Plaintiffs to their burden, the district court essentially","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"“substitute[d] [its] assumptions for evidence in the record.”","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"United States v. Barnes, 895 F.3d 1194, 1199 (9th Cir.","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"2018). That it cannot do.","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"Plaintiffs’ citation of cases suggesting the relevance of","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"statistics is misplaced. See Ans. Br. 27 (citing United States","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"v. Ironworkers Local 86, 443 F.2d 544 (9th Cir. 1971); Diaz","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 752 F.2d 1356 (9th Cir. 1985); Obrey","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"v. Johnson, 400 F.3d 691 (9th Cir. 2005)). We do not dispute","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 15","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"that statistics can be useful. But even the authority Plaintiffs","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"rely on says, “as is the case with all statistics, their use is","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"conditioned by the existence of proper supportive facts and","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"the absence of variables which would undermine the","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"reasonableness of the inference of [improper conduct] which","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"is drawn.” Ironworkers Local 86, 443 F.2d at 551 (emphasis","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"added) (footnotes omitted). Plaintiffs have not offered","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"“proper supportive facts” or the “absence of variables”","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"suggesting a “presumption.” Id. Nor are Diaz and Obrey on","paragraph_id":"para_429"},{"text":"point. Both Diaz and Obrey addressed the relevance of","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"statistical evidence: whether it was “properly subject to","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"discovery,” Diaz, 752 F.2d at 1358, and whether it was","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"“probative” to be admitted, Obrey, 400 F.3d at 697; again, it","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"is not relevance we dispute, but whether the inference drawn","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"from statistics alone had any factual basis here. It did not.","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"2.","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"Even assuming the existence of a default presumption,","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"however, the district court’s mandatory injunction would","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"still be unjustified. The record here does not support the","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"conclusion that any presumption reflected Defendants’","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"Plaintiffs and other class members—a prerequisite to","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"establishing an Eighth Amendment violation. See Farmer v.","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 828 (1994).","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"The district court concluded that there was a substantial","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"risk of harm because “[n]early 35% of transgender people in","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"state and federal prisons were sexually assaulted between","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"2007 and 2021, compared to less than 5% of the general","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"prison population who experienced the same.” S.D., 2026","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"WL 1146591, at *9 (emphasis added). But the Department","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"of Justice study, cited by the district court, was not from","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"2007 through 2021. Rather, the study covered a much","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"16 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"narrower timeframe—2007, 2008–2009, and 2011–2012.","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"See U.S. Dep’t of Just., Off. of Just. Programs, Sexual","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates,","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"2011–12, NCJ No. 241399, Supp. Table 1 (2014). The","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"district court’s error is significant: The statistics used long","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"predate the relevant period here—Plaintiff J.F. and other","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"inmates (who submitted declarations) had all requested","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"transfer during or after 2021. That is roughly a decade-long","paragraph_id":"para_461"},{"text":"gap. The district court’s use of stale statistics does not justify","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"finding a “substantial risk of harm.”","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"The district court’s reliance on the DOJ study is flawed","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"in another respect: The DOJ statistics are cumulative","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"nationwide numbers reflecting reports at both federal and","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"state prisons; the numbers do not necessarily reflect","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"conditions in Oregon prisons, which likely have a different","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"model of prison administration from many other prisons.","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"For instance, the Oregon Department of Corrections has a","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"specific “Transgender and Intersex Committee” that","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"“determine[s] appropriate and safe housing for transgender","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"and intersex adults-in-custody.” 2-ER-239. The district","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"court, to be sure, relied also on declarations of individuals","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"who claim to be exposed to a substantial risk of harm from","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"sexual assault while in men’s prisons. But even if we","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"credited those declarations, individual instances of harm","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"would warrant, at most, individual redress of particular","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"constitutional violations. They would not justify the class","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"relief mandated by the district court.","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"3.","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"The district court’s injunction is also based on an","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"improperly certified class. The certified class here included","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"“all current and future transgender women in ODOC","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"custody.” S.D., 2026 WL 1146591, at *19. Plaintiffs “must","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 17","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"‘affirmatively demonstrate’ by a preponderance of actual","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"evidence that they satisfy all the Rule 23 prerequisites.”","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"Dickinson v. Trump, 174 F.4th 634, 646 (9th Cir. 2026)","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"(citations omitted). But they failed to satisfy that","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"requirement here. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(2) (requiring","paragraph_id":"para_491"},{"text":"“questions of law or fact common to the class”).","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"Plaintiffs have not shown by a preponderance of the","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"evidence that the class members’ alleged harms, their","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"varying degrees of harm, and the source of their harms are","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"“common” to all class members. Nor have Plaintiffs shown","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"that Defendants acted in a uniform way with deliberate","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"indifference toward each of the class members. At most, the","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"record reflects that different officials acted in different ways","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"toward different prisoners at different times. See 2-ER-240","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"(declining J.F.’s transfer request because of J.F.’s history of","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"sexually assaulting a disabled female victim); 2-ER-240–41","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"(granting Doe’s initial transfer request but then returning","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"Doe to a men’s prison after Doe became aggressive toward","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"female inmates, and then ultimately putting Doe back in","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"women’s prison upon Doe’s receiving a vulvoplasty); 2-ER-","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"242 (denying S.S.’s transfer request because S.S. did not","paragraph_id":"para_507"},{"text":"make the request until two months before S.S’s release date).","paragraph_id":"para_508"},{"text":"That does not support a class. The district court’s own","paragraph_id":"para_509"},{"text":"admission that it “has no information about the other 91","paragraph_id":"para_510"},{"text":"AICs” confirms that a class would be inappropriate here.","paragraph_id":"para_511"},{"text":"S.D., 2026 WL 1146591, at *10.","paragraph_id":"para_512"},{"text":"The district court’s finding of commonality rested on its","paragraph_id":"para_513"},{"text":"conclusion that Defendants had a “systemic” policy that","paragraph_id":"para_514"},{"text":"“preferences housing [proposed class members],","paragraph_id":"para_515"},{"text":"categorically, in men’s prisons, such that they are exposed to","paragraph_id":"para_516"},{"text":"a substantial risk of violence and sexual assault.” Id. at *17.","paragraph_id":"para_517"},{"text":"But as discussed, the record does not support the existence","paragraph_id":"para_518"},{"text":"of such a policy. See supra II.A.1. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v.","paragraph_id":"para_519"},{"text":"18 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_520"},{"text":"Dukes, 564 U.S. 338 (2011), is on point. There, the Supreme","paragraph_id":"para_521"},{"text":"Court rejected certification of a class of female employees","paragraph_id":"para_522"},{"text":"who purportedly suffered gender discrimination at the hands","paragraph_id":"para_523"},{"text":"of store managers. Id. at 344–46, 367. The plaintiffs could","paragraph_id":"para_524"},{"text":"not show by a preponderance that the company had a policy","paragraph_id":"para_525"},{"text":"of discrimination that would justify the class; what remained","paragraph_id":"para_526"},{"text":"were individual allegations of discrimination insufficient to","paragraph_id":"para_527"},{"text":"satisfy commonality. Id. at 350–51, 353–55. The same","paragraph_id":"para_528"},{"text":"defect pertains here—Plaintiffs have not shown a","paragraph_id":"para_529"},{"text":"Department-wide policy of deliberate indifference to justify","paragraph_id":"para_530"},{"text":"a class; scattered claims of harm, however severe, will not","paragraph_id":"para_531"},{"text":"do. Because the class must be decertified, the class-wide","paragraph_id":"para_532"},{"text":"injunction necessarily falls as well.","paragraph_id":"para_533"},{"text":"B.","paragraph_id":"para_534"},{"text":"While Plaintiffs’ failure to establish a likelihood of","paragraph_id":"para_535"},{"text":"success is enough to warrant vacatur of the preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_536"},{"text":"injunction, the remaining Winter factors reinforce that","paragraph_id":"para_537"},{"text":"conclusion. See Azar, 911 F.3d at 575. Consider first","paragraph_id":"para_538"},{"text":"irreparable harm. Plaintiffs’ allegations of harm, even","paragraph_id":"para_539"},{"text":"assuming its irreparability, reflect individual harm and do","paragraph_id":"para_540"},{"text":"not justify class-wide relief. Meanwhile, the district court’s","paragraph_id":"para_541"},{"text":"class-wide injunction would continue to work irreparable","paragraph_id":"para_542"},{"text":"harm on Defendants. As the Supreme Court has","paragraph_id":"para_543"},{"text":"acknowledged, “it is ‘difficult to imagine an activity in","paragraph_id":"para_544"},{"text":"which a State has a stronger interest, or one that is more","paragraph_id":"para_545"},{"text":"intricately bound up with state laws, regulations, and","paragraph_id":"para_546"},{"text":"procedures, than the administration of its prisons.’”","paragraph_id":"para_547"},{"text":"Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 94 (2006) (citation omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_548"},{"text":"The State’s interest here is severely disrupted by the district","paragraph_id":"para_549"},{"text":"court’s overhaul of Oregon’s prison system. And by","paragraph_id":"para_550"},{"text":"imposing a presumption that “transgender women” inmates","paragraph_id":"para_551"},{"text":"be assigned to a women’s prison, the district court’s","paragraph_id":"para_552"},{"text":"S.D. V. REESE 19","paragraph_id":"para_553"},{"text":"injunction not only displaces the State’s role as prison","paragraph_id":"para_554"},{"text":"administrator—it compromises public safety too.","paragraph_id":"para_555"},{"text":"The balance of the equities and the public interest thus","paragraph_id":"para_556"},{"text":"sharply favor Defendants. Under the district court’s order,","paragraph_id":"para_557"},{"text":"more than a hundred inmates currently in men’s prisons","paragraph_id":"para_558"},{"text":"could be channeled to and placed in the only state-run","paragraph_id":"para_559"},{"text":"women’s prison in Oregon. Those inmates include Plaintiff","paragraph_id":"para_560"},{"text":"J.F., who sexually assaulted a woman by lodging a footlong","paragraph_id":"para_561"},{"text":"plastic object into that woman’s vagina, and other inmates","paragraph_id":"para_562"},{"text":"convicted of violent crimes. 2-ER-240. The district court","paragraph_id":"para_563"},{"text":"allows for the presumption to be rebutted by “a documented","paragraph_id":"para_564"},{"text":"and articulable security justification” (1-ER-3), but it","paragraph_id":"para_565"},{"text":"apparently believed that, in J.F.’s case, no such justification","paragraph_id":"para_566"},{"text":"existed. Remarkably, the district court stated that “no","paragraph_id":"para_567"},{"text":"explanation has been provided as to why J.F.’s violent","paragraph_id":"para_568"},{"text":"history requires [J.F.’s] continued housing in a men’s","paragraph_id":"para_569"},{"text":"prison.” S.D., 2026 WL 1146591, at *12. If J.F.’s record","paragraph_id":"para_570"},{"text":"does not rebut the district court’s presumption, it is hard to","paragraph_id":"para_571"},{"text":"see what would. Consider then the order’s implications:","paragraph_id":"para_572"},{"text":"Against the State’s deliberate judgment, the district court","paragraph_id":"para_573"},{"text":"could force Oregon to transfer the named Plaintiff to a","paragraph_id":"para_574"},{"text":"women’s prison because Plaintiff now identifies as a","paragraph_id":"para_575"},{"text":"woman—an individual who no one disputes was convicted","paragraph_id":"para_576"},{"text":"of perpetrating sexual violence against a woman in a","paragraph_id":"para_577"},{"text":"manner most unconscionable. Plainly, that is not in the","paragraph_id":"para_578"},{"text":"public interest. And because the district court found that","paragraph_id":"para_579"},{"text":"Plaintiff served as an adequate class representative whose","paragraph_id":"para_580"},{"text":"claims are typical of the other class members, hundreds of","paragraph_id":"para_581"},{"text":"other class members (many with histories of violence against","paragraph_id":"para_582"},{"text":"women) could be ordered transferred too. The equities and","paragraph_id":"para_583"},{"text":"public interest do not justify that result.","paragraph_id":"para_584"},{"text":"20 S.D. V. REESE","paragraph_id":"para_585"},{"text":"* * *","paragraph_id":"para_586"},{"text":"The law and facts do not clearly favor the district court’s","paragraph_id":"para_587"},{"text":"order here. Nor do the other Winter factors support it.","paragraph_id":"para_588"},{"text":"Accordingly, we vacate the district court’s preliminary","paragraph_id":"para_589"},{"text":"injunction and remand with instructions to decertify the","paragraph_id":"para_590"},{"text":"class. Given the risk that delay could moot the appeal, see","paragraph_id":"para_591"},{"text":"Ahlman v. Barnes, 20 F.4th 489, 493–95 (9th Cir. 2021);","paragraph_id":"para_592"},{"text":"Norbert v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco, 10 F.4th 918, 926–","paragraph_id":"para_593"},{"text":"27 (9th Cir. 2021), the mandate shall issue forthwith. See","paragraph_id":"para_594"},{"text":"Fed. R. App. P. 2; Ninth Cir. Gen. 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