A misdemeanor case against Marcy Rheintgen, a transgender woman who was arrested in March 2025 for using the women’s restroom inside the Florida Statehouse, has been officially dismissed. The court’s order dismissed the charges for violating Florida’s speedy trial rules.
The incident occurred as Rheintgen participated in a protest against Florida’s recent legislation barring transgender individuals from using public restrooms that align with their gender identity. After washing her hands in the Statehouse’s women’s restroom, she was arrested by Capitol police and charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor under state law.
The case, filed under Case No. 2025-MM-555, was dismissed by Leon County Judge L.S. Riggans on June 20, 2025. The order granting Rheintgen’s Motion for Discharge stated, “The charges against Ms. Rheintgen in the above-styled case are to be dismissed, and she is to be discharged because the speedy trial period has expired.”
Florida law generally requires that misdemeanor cases go to trial within 90 days unless specific extensions or waivers are granted. No such exception was noted in this case.
The arrest came amid mounting political and legal battles over transgender rights in Florida. Recently, the state has passed legislation restricting access to gender-affirming health care for minors, limiting participation of trans youth in sports, and increasing scrutiny of restroom use in government buildings and schools. While not all of these laws are currently enforceable due to ongoing legal challenges, enforcement actions, such as Rheintgen’s arrest, have continued under related statutes.
Though she was charged under Florida’s trespassing law, the context of her arrest, using the restroom during a peaceful protest, drew national attention. There were no reported allegations of disruptive behavior. Her supporters viewed the arrest as a targeted attempt to intimidate transgender individuals and silence dissent.
The court’s dismissal order also makes a point to honor Rheintgen’s gender identity. While earlier documents used a different name and gender, Judge Riggans used her correct name and pronouns. A footnote in the order cites the American Bar Association’s Resolution 604, passed in August 2023, which encourages courts to respect a person’s name and gender identity in all legal proceedings.
Rheintgen was represented by Assistant Public Defender Theodore Summers. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Kim Thompson. No further legal action is pending.
As of this writing, Rheintgen has not issued a public statement regarding the outcome of her case.
TransVitae will continue covering legal developments related to transgender rights, including the evolving landscape of public accommodation laws across the United States.
