Reply Brief For Defendants-Appellant S In Franciscan Alliance, Inc. V. Xavier Becerra.pdf

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

FRANCISCAN ALLIANCE, INCORPORATED; CHRISTIAN MEDICAL AND DENTAL SOCIETY; SPECIALTY PHYSICIANS OF ILLINOIS, L.L.C.,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,

v.

XAVIER BECERRA, SECRETARY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
Defendants-Appellants

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF TEXAS; RIVER CITY GENDER ALLIANCE,

Intervenor Defendants-Appellants.

On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

REPLY BRIEF FOR DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS

BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General
MARLEIGH D. DOVER CHARLES W. SCARBOROUGH MCKAYE L. NEUMEISTER Attorneys, Appellate Staff Civil Division, Room 7231 U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20530 (202) 514-8100

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................................................................................. ii
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1
ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................................ 2
I.
This Case Is Moot Because Plaintiffs Only Challenged the 2016 Rule. ................ 2
II.
In the Alternative, Plaintiffs Failed to Demonstrate Standing, Ripeness,
and Imminent Irreparable Harm Sufficient to Support a Permanent
Injunction. .................................................................................................................... 12
A.
Plaintiffs Lack Standing. ................................................................................. 12
B.
Plaintiffs’ Claim Is Not Ripe. ......................................................................... 21
C.
The District Court Erred in Concluding that Plaintiffs
Demonstrated Imminent Irreparable Harm Sufficient to Justify
Permanent Injunctive Relief. .......................................................................... 25
CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 27
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE