Tag Archives: ACLU

The New York Times reports on the “dueling” going on to be the legal team to argue for same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court. In a half-dozen briefs filed in recent weeks, some of the best lawyers in the nation spent many pages arguing that their case was the right one in which to establish a nationwide right to same-sex …

Via the Wall Street Journal: Mark your calendars: the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider its next steps on gay marriage when the justices meet for the first time since their summer break. The court on Wednesday listed gay marriage petitions from five states – Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin – for consideration at its Sept. 29 private conference. …

Via the ACLU of Florida: Today, defendants in two federal lawsuits challenging Florida’s marriage ban – Governor Scott appointees John Armstrong (Surgeon General) and Craig Nichols (Secretary of the Department of Management Services), and Washington County Clerk of Court Harold Bazzell— filed a notice that they are appealing the August 21 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle overturning Florida’s …

Equality Virginia It is disappointing that the Supreme Court stayed the 4th Circuit Court’s decision.  Lesbian and gay Virginians have waited long enough for the freedom to marry. Loving couples – and families – should not have to endure yet another standstill before their commitment to one another is recognized here in Virginia. Every day that this ruling is stayed, …

Via the Washington Post: Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D) told the Supreme Court on Monday that it should put on hold a lower court’s order that same-sex couples in the state be allowed to marry, beginning this week. Herring said that he agrees with the panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit that struck Virginia’s …

On Friday, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announced a 5PM today deadline for Virginia’s marriage plaintiffs to respond to the stay continuance demand made last week by the Alliance Defending Freedom. Via press release: Today, Lambda Legal, the ACLU and ACLU of Virginia will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to deny the motion filed Thursday by Prince William County …

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who has jurisdiction over the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, today set a deadline of Monday 5PM for attorneys for the Virginia plaintiffs to respond to yesterday’s stay demand by the Alliance Defending Freedom. Should Roberts reject the stay demand, same-sex marriages would commence on Thursday at 8AM. (Tipped by JMG reader ArchiLaw)

Via the Associated Press: Gay marriage advocates want a federal judge to quickly overturn North Carolina’s ban on same-sex unions after an appeals court ruling to overturn a similar prohibition in Virginia. Federal Judge William Osteen in Greensboro has put no timeline on when he might rule over whether North Carolina’s same-sex marriage ban can stay in place. The American …

Via the ACLU of Virginia: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit today denied a request to delay implementation of its ruling striking down Virginia laws denying marriage to same-sex couples. The court’s action means that, unless the Supreme Court intervenes, couples may begin marrying and having their out-of-state marriages recognized in Virginia on August 18. Prince William …

A coalition of 17 national LGBT and civil rights groups have issued a joint letter in support of the family of Missouri teenager Michael Brown, whose killing by a police officer has inflamed racial tensions and prompted a national outcry. Among the groups signing the letter are the ACLU, HRC, GLAD, GLAAD, GMHC, NGLTF, PFLAG, and the Trevor Project.

Last week the Alliance Defending Freedom announced that they will file an appeal with the US Supreme Court over the Fourth Circuit Court’s overturn of Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban. Their appeal will be filed on behalf of the Prince William County clerk. Today Democratic Virginia state Attorney General Mark Herring announced that he will also ask SCOTUS to review the …

Via press release from the ACLU of Utah: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit denied Utah’s request to suspend a lower court’s ruling ordering the state to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who were legally married after a federal court struck down a state ban, but before the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted additional marriages from …

Yesterday several major LGBT groups including the ACLU, the NGLTF, and Lambda Legal announced that they no longer support ENDA due to its broad religious exemptions. Buzzfeed‘s Chris Geidner has published a lengthy look at the ENDA battle and concludes his analysis with three reasons for the sudden change of heart. The final reason: The White House is preparing an …

This afternoon the ACLU joined a growing list of civil rights group that have dropped their support for ENDA due to its gaping religious exemptions. Via press release: The provision in the current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that allows religious organizations to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity has long been a source of significant …

“My opponent, Republican Susan Collins, had the chance to speak up in favor of marriage equality in 2012 or any time in the previous decade. Two years after her constituents made their feelings known at the ballot box, she has refused to break her silence. I believe Mainers need, want and deserve more proactive representation on equal rights — on …

The ACLU today filed what (I think) is Alabama’s fourth marriage-related lawsuit. Via press release: The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit today challenging Alabama’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of April and Ginger Aaron-Brush of Birmingham. The couple was wed in Massachusetts but their marriage …

The ACLU yesterday filed the requested demand for a permanent injunction against the enforcement of Wisconsin’s marriage ban. Defendants Scott Walker and J.B. Van Hollen, in their official capacities,and their officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and all those acting in concert with them, are permanently enjoined from enforcing art. XIII, § 13 of the Wisconsin Constitution and any Wisconsin …

As expected, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen today filed a same-sex marriage notice of appeal with the Seventh Circuit Court. Several county clerks in Wisconsin have been issuing marriage licenses since the ban was struck down on Friday by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, but other county clerks say they are waiting for clarification from the state. Van Hollen …

Via Milwaukee TMJ-TV: A federal judge has ruled that Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Wisconsin’s voters passed a constitutional ban against same-sex marriages in 2006, but the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the law firm of Mayer Brown filed a lawsuit on behalf of eight Wisconsin couples challenging the ban. Part of Friday’s ruling …