U.S. Court Strikes Down D.C. Teletherapy Licensing Law as First Amendment Violation
On July 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down a D.C. law that prohibited therapists licensed in other jurisdictions from conducting online teletherapy sessions with clients in D.C. The decision came nearly six years after Virginia-based counselor Elizabeth Brokamp, represented by the Institute for Justice (IJ), filed a lawsuit arguing the law violated the First Amendment. IJ Deputy Director of Litigation Robert McNamara hailed the ruling as a victory for free speech, stating that the First Amendment protects useful speech like counseling. The article also includes commentary advocating for broader telemedicine reform, arguing that patients should be allowed to consult physicians licensed in any state, without requiring separate state licenses or interstate compacts, as a form of competitive federalism.
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