Lambda Legal Lawyer Indicted for Lying in Alabama Judge Shopping Inquiry

Carl Charles, an attorney at Lambda Legal and former Justice Department official under President Joe Biden, has been federally indicted for making false statements during a judicial inquiry into alleged "judge shopping" related to challenges against Alabama's ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. The indictment follows sanctions imposed on Charles and two other lawyers by U.S. District Judge Liles Burke, a Trump appointee, who accused them of attempting to manipulate the judicial process by dismissing and refiling cases to have them heard by a different court. This charge is notable as it addresses the contentious practice of steering cases to ideologically favorable judges, a tactic used by litigants across the political spectrum. The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has intensified investigations into providers of gender-affirming treatments, framing this indictment within a broader crackdown. Lambda Legal has condemned the indictment as governmental overreach and continues to support Charles, who pleaded not guilty. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the U.S. culture wars surrounding transgender rights and judicial ethics.