Tag Archives: Lambda Legal

NEXT MONDAY: Ninth Circuit Court To Hear Marriage Cases From NV, ID, & HI

Via press release from NCLR: On September 8th the Court will hear oral arguments beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific at the James R Browning US Courthouse, 95 7th Street, San Francisco, to laws banning marriage equality in Idaho, Nevada, and Hawaii. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Boise, Idaho attorneys Deborah A. Ferguson and Craig Durham of Ferguson …

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LGBT Groups React To Virginia Stay

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, …

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VIRGINIA: AG Mark Herring Ask SCOTUS To Continue Stay On Same-Sex Marriages

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 …

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VIRGINIA: Plaintiffs To Tell SCOTUS Not To Continue Same-Sex Marriage Stay

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 …

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VIRGINIA: Chief Justice John Roberts Sets Monday 5PM Deadline For Stay Response

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)

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VIRGINIA: State AG Mark Herring To Ask SCOTUS To Review Fourth Circuit Ruling

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 …

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WISCONSIN: State Supreme Court Says Domestic Partners Law Is Constitutional

Via press release from Lambda Legal: Today the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the state’s domestic partnership registry as constitutional, bringing a joyful end to a long legal battle by Lambda Legal on behalf of Fair Wisconsin and five intervening defendant couples. “We’re thrilled that Wisconsin same-sex couples can keep the limited but very important protections that the domestic partnership registry …

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Quote Of The Day – Jon Davidson

“Today’s 4th Circuit decision is not yet final. It won’t be final until at least August 18th (it could be longer if a petition for rehearing is sought) and, of course, a stay of today’s decision by the 4th Circuit or the Supreme Court might be sought by the clerks who defended the Virginia marriage ban. In addition, while nothing …

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ALASKA: State Supreme Court Allows Partners To Access Survivor Benefits

Via press release from Lambda Legal: The Alaska Supreme Court today ruled unanimously that the same-sex partner of a person killed on the job should have access to the protection of Alaska’s workers’ compensation law. This is a wonderful ruling for same-sex couples in Alaska who have built lives and raised families together but were at risk because they were …

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ARIZONA: Lawyers Ask For Summary Judgment In Marriage Case

Via the Associated Press: Lawyers for Arizona and a group of gay and lesbian couples who sued the state over its ban on same-sex marriage want a judge to decide the case without holding a full trial. The attorneys told U.S. District Court Judge John W. Sedwick they believe he can instead rule based on arguments each side will file …

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Buzzfeed’s Chris Geidner On ENDA

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 …

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ACLU Retracts ENDA Support

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 …

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INDIANA: Seventh Circuit Grants Marriage Recognition For Terminally Ill Lesbian

Lambda Legal reports that the Indiana Attorney General tried to stop today’s ruling. Today, the day after Lambda Legal filed papers with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals asking the court on an emergency basis to lift its stay to allow respect for the marriage of one couple, Niki Quasney and Amy Sandler, because Niki is battling Stage IV ovarian …

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Civil Rights & LGBT Groups Denounce Hobby Lobby Ruling By Supreme Court

The Center For Inquiry Today the Court made clear it does not view Americans’ access to medically necessary health care as a compelling government interest, and announced loud and clear that the religious preferences of employers take preference over the health needs of workers. In making its decision, the Supreme Court also made a determination that will cause significant confusion …

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NORTH DAKOTA: Another Marriage Suit

Via the Associated Press: A second lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging North Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage. The 33-page complaint filed by Jan Jorgensen and Cindy Phillips, who live in Fargo and were legally married in Minnesota, says the couple is treated as “legal strangers” in their home state. Last week, seven couples filed a complaint to …

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ILLINOIS: Lead Plaintiffs In Marriage Suit Marry After 50 Years Together

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Virginia AG Mark Herring: Today’s Anti-Gay Arguments Were “Wholly Unpersuasive”

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring gave a great speech at the press conference held by the plaintiffs and their legal teams after today’s oral arguments in Virginia’s marriage equality case before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Herring vows to “work every day as a modern attorney general.” The audio doesn’t kick in for a few seconds.

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VIRGINIA: Fourth Circuit Court Of Appeals To Hear Marriage Case Tomorrow

Tomorrow the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear Virginia’s marriage equality case. A three-judge panel randomly selected from the 16-member appeals court will hear arguments from lawyers for both sides. The Richmond-based 4th Circuit, once widely considered the most conservative appeals court in the country, has become more moderate with the addition of five appointees by President Barack Obama. …

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Lambda Legal Denounces Indiana For “Shameful” Marriage Recognition Appeal

Via Lambda Legal: Lambda Legal filed suit and won a court ruling requiring the State of Indiana to respect the marriage of Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney — an important victory for the couple and their two children, as Niki battles stage four cancer. Niki wants to be recognized as married in her home state while she is still alive. …

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Indiana Appeals Marriage Recognition Ruling For Terminally Ill Lesbian

Via the Associated Press: Indiana has asked a federal judge to stay his order requiring it to recognize the out-of-state marriage of a lesbian couple in which one woman is terminally ill, saying that the ruling could raise false hopes for other same-sex couples. State attorneys also filed a formal notice of appeal following U.S. District Judge Richard Young’s ruling. …

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