SAN FRANCISCO A federal appeals court is wrangling over the legality of California's first-in-the-nation bid to ban "sexual-orientation change" counseling of children.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday closely questioned lawyers on both sides of the issue. The judges asked whether licensed mental health professionals who offer such therapy are protected by free-speech rights, and whether they're offering medical treatment that can be regulated by the government.
Two lower courts have split on the issue.
