Christian Legal Group Offers to Defend NC Bathroom Law

A Christian legal group is offering to defend North Carolina's new bathroom law after the state's attorney general refused to do it this week, even though it's his legal responsibility to do so.

The Liberty Counsel is offering free labor for the North Carolina General Assembly's Republican leaders against a federal lawsuit by transgender men and liberal legal groups.

"The Attorney General's unjustified refusal is a disturbing commentary on modern legal ethics. He is clearly putting his political ambitions above the law," said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel.

The North Carolina law states that people must use the restroom of their biological gender.

State lawmakers decided the law was needed after the city of Charlotte opened women's public bathrooms to men.

Opponents say the state law discriminates against transgender people, while supporters say it's merely about protecting privacy and safety.

In addition to the lawsuit, pressure is mounting on the state from outside sources.

Connecticut's governor has now joined leaders from other states in banning publicly funded travel to North Carolina.

Governors from from New York, Vermont and Washington, as well as the mayor of San Francisco, have also banned travel to North Carolina by public officials.

And the NBA has threatened to move its 2017 all-star game out of Charlotte in protest of the law.

The Liberty Counsel last year defended Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in federal court after she refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses.