Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued a statement regarding the preliminary injunction by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in Arkansas v. U.S. Department of Education, which halts the implementation of the Biden-Harris administration’s new rule interpreting Title IX.
“Today’s ruling is a victory for women and girls in Arkansas and across the nation as yet again a federal court has stopped the Biden-Harris administration from going around Congress to implement a ridiculous, nonsensical, and illegal election-year move,” said Griffin.
Griffin emphasized that "Congress enacted Title IX to protect and promote educational opportunities for women and girls." He noted that the preliminary injunction prevents changes that would allow men into women’s and girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, and showers, permit males onto girls’ sports teams, and protect teachers, administrators, and students from potential investigations or sanctions for disagreeing with the gender ideology of the current administration. He highlighted that this decision comes just before the start of the new school year.
“I congratulate Solicitor General Nicholas Bronni and Deputy Solicitor General Dylan Jacobs for their diligence that led to today’s victory,” Griffin added.
The lawsuit was filed by Griffin on May 7 and was joined by attorneys general from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, along with an Arkansas high-school athlete.
About Attorney General Tim Griffin:
Tim Griffin was sworn in as Arkansas's 57th Attorney General on January 10, 2023. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 2015-2023 and represented Arkansas's Second Congressional District from 2011-2015. During his tenure in Congress, he served on several committees including Ways and Means; Armed Services; Foreign Affairs; Ethics; Judiciary; while also acting as Deputy Whip for the Majority.
Griffin has over 28 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps and holds the rank of colonel. In 2005, he was mobilized to active duty as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, serving with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq. Currently, he commands the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans. His past assignments include commanding roles at Fort Liberty (formerly Bragg), North Carolina; Senior Legislative Advisor at Pentagon; among others.
He earned a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. His legal career includes roles such as U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Arkansas; Special Assistant to President George W. Bush; positions within U.S. Department of Justice; Senior Investigative Counsel at House Government Reform Committee; Associate Independent Counsel under David M. Barrett.
Griffin graduated from Magnolia High School, Hendrix College in Conway, Tulane Law School in New Orleans, attended graduate school at Oxford University and is admitted to practice law in Arkansas (active) and Louisiana (inactive). He resides in Little Rock with his wife Elizabeth and their three children.
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