Knudsen

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN COURT No. 23-3581

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA;

D.C. No.

ADRIA JAWORT; RACHEL

2:23-cv-00050-

CORCORAN; MONTANA BOOK

BMM

COMPANY; IMAGINE BREWING

COMPANY, LLC; BUMBLEBEE

AERIAL FITNESS; WESTERN

MONTANA COMMUNITY OPINION

CENTER; GREAT FALLS

LGBTQ+ CENTER; THE MYRNA

LOY; MONTANA PRIDE; ROXY

THEATER,

Plaintiffs - Appellees,

v.

AUSTIN KNUDSEN; ELSIE

ARNTZEN,

Defendants - Appellants,

and

J.P. GALLAGHER, CITY OF

HELENA,

Defendants. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Montana Brian M. Morris, Chief District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted June 4, 2024 Portland, Oregon

Filed March 13, 2026

Before: Johnnie B. Rawlinson, Danielle J. Forrest, and Jennifer Sung, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge Sung; Concurrence by Judge Rawlinson

SUMMARY *

Preliminary Injunction / Standing / First Amendment

The panel affirmed the district court’s preliminary injunction enjoining Defendants—the Montana Attorney General and the Montana Superintendent of Public Education—from instituting, maintaining, or prosecuting any…