Tag Archives: marriage equality

Via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Although she continues to defend Florida’s ban on same-sex marriages, Attorney General Pam Bondi will not be filing a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case that is likely to settle the issue of gay marriage in the nation. This week, Bondi told reporters and editors gathered at the Associated Press’ legislative planning session this week …

The National Center for Lesbian Rights today filed a motion which opposes Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s petition that SCOTUS hear an appeal of his state’s same-sex marriage ruling. Equality Case Files has the motion: The Court has already granted four petitions for writs of certiorari to decide the questions presented in this case. There is no cause to add yet …

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley today filed an amicus brief with the Eleventh Circuit Court in support of Attorney General Luther Strange’s petition for a stay on same-sex marriage until SCOTUS makes its ruling. Bentley’s brief declares that it is “demeaning” to democracy to allow same-sex marriages to occur. Via Equality Case Files: On a complicated and controversial issue such as …

The first couple to win a same-sex marriage suit without a lawyer will not have that problem for their appeal. Just in from the NCLR: Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) asked a federal appeals court to permit same-sex couples in Alabama to begin obtaining marriage licenses when an existing federal court stay expires on February 9. NCLR …

Via Fort Worth’s CBS affiliate: Fort Worth police Cpl. Tracey Knight, it is a life-changing decision. “When I got the news last night,” she said, pausing, tears in her eyes… “When I got the news last night, it was very emotional.” The news that has Knight, all choked up came from a memo sent Wednesday to all Fort Worth city …

Lawyers from both sides of one of Louisiana’s same-sex marriage case yesterday urged the state Supreme Court to rule soon even though other cases are pending before SCOTUS. Kyle Duncan, making the state’s argument that its ban on same-sex marriage should stand, argued that the nation’s highest court “needs as much input as possible on this issue, especially from state …

From the Associated Press: Virginia will pay $520,000 to the lawyers for two same-sex couples who successfully challenged the state’s gay marriage ban. The settlement agreement was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk. The attorneys had sought more than $1.7 million. The law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher will receive $459,000. Shuttleworth, Ruloff, Swain, Haddad & Morecock will …

From the Red-Caped Catholic Loons: Dissident Catholic pressure groups — aided by the liberal media — are feverishly working to dismantle vital Church teaching on marriage and family at the next Synod on the Family in Rome. In fact, they are bombarding the Holy Father and the Synod Fathers right now with messages of revolt against traditional moral values as …

Yesterday was the first day of North Carolina’s legislative session and already there’s an attempt to legalize the refusal to issue marriage licenses and conduct courthouse marriage ceremonies. But since they’d likely fail if they attempted to target only gay couples, the new bill is broader. Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, filed a bill to allow magistrates to refuse to preside …

From the Ellen DeGeneres Show: Kim and Cari have been fighting for marriage equality in Alabama since 2008. Apart from their desire to bring equality to all of the citizens of Alabama, they’re fighting for their son, Khaya, and their right to be legally recognized as his parents. Their efforts have recently made incredible strides in Alabama, but their nearly …

“I have to tell you, I am really excited about our opportunities this year. We’re in the best position we’ve been in in years thanks to the support of you and other members of NOM. With a solid pro-marriage majority in both the House and the US Senate, populated by real marriage champions like Representatives Raul Labrador and John Fleming …

Via the National Catholic Register: A coalition of Catholic and Protestant leaders has united to call all Christians to an unwavering defense of the truth of marriage, rooted in nature as well as faith. “We affirm strongly and without qualification, following the clear testimony of holy Scripture, that marriage is a unique and privileged sign of the union of Christ …

Via the Birmingham News: The professional association of Alabama’s probate judges said Wednesday it now is satisfied that a federal court order striking down the state’s same-sex marriage ban applies to them. The Alabama Probate Judges Association had taken the position that the order Friday by U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. “Ginny” Granade in Mobile applied only to the two …

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Via Mediaite: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) got down to the nitty-gritty in the Senate Judiciary confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch, asking Eric Holder’s potential replacement to explicate the constitutional difference between gay marriage and polygamy. “What’s the legal difference between a ban on same-sex marriage being unconstitutional but a ban on polygamy being constitutional? Could you try …

A coalition of journalism organizations and NGOs today urged the Supreme Court to allow cameras in the courtroom during the coming landmark same-sex marriage case. In a letter to U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, the Coalition for Court Transparency today requested “that audio-visual coverage of oral arguments in the same-sex marriage cases be broadcast live, enabling the world to witness …

From the Southern Poverty Law Center: The SPLC today filed a judicial ethics complaint against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore over his public statements urging the governor and Alabama judges to defy federal law and enforce Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriages. The complaint was filed with the Judicial Inquiry Commission of Alabama, which could recommend that Moore face ethics charges …

Federal Judge Granade today clarified her ruling from last Friday, stipulating that it does indeed apply to all Alabama counties. A representative of the APJA reportedly stated that this court’s decision was limited to the same-sex couple that filed the case and that the only party who was enjoined from enforcing the laws in question was Attorney General Strange. Because …

From Lambda Legal’s brief: Plaintiffs have conferred with counsel for Defendants Deborah Aderhold and Monica Fenton (“Defendants”) and are informed that those Defendants would seek at least four months of discovery were the case to proceed. Accordingly, Obergefell will be argued – and likely decided – well before the parties could finish discovery and then proceed to dispositive motions for …

“Federal judges may have the last word on marriage — but they won’t have the final one. That’s becoming abundantly clear in Alabama, the latest state to feel the sting of a runaway court invalidating the will of the people on marriage. In a letter to Governor Robert Bentley (R-Ala.), Chief Justice Roy Moore made that quite clear – explaining …