Lawyers for Ashley Diamond Welcome DOJ Weighing in on Case

April 22, 2021 Macon, GA – In response to the Statement of Interest that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed late this afternoon in Ashley Diamond’s lawsuit, Diamond v. Ward, against officials within the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Southern Poverty Law Center released the following statement:

The DOJ’s Statement of Interest affirms what Ms. Diamond has alleged in her lawsuit: that prison officials violate the U.S. Constitution and the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment when they refuse transgender people placements at facilities that correspond to their gender identity where needed for safety, and when they deny transgender people medically-necessary gender dysphoria care without conducting individualized assessments of their needs.

In essence, the DOJ confirms that when it comes to Ms. Diamond—who alleges repeated sexual assaults, including by prison officials, and ongoing denial of adequate medical care—the U.S. Constitution is on her side. We are encouraged that the Biden administration agrees, and optimistic that the court will protect the rights of Ms. Diamond and other incarcerated trans people.

More information about the case can be found here and here.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit:www.splcenter.org. “SPLCenter” on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.