Tag Archives: South Dakota

The attorneys general of fifteen states have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in which they predictably argue that a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage will “irretrievably” destroy their right to self-government. From the brief:  The Constitution takes no sides on same-sex marriage, and therefore leaves the issue up to the free deliberations of state citizens. The …

It seems unlikely that we’d get a decision before the Supreme Court. But we’ve been surprised many times.

“It remains the State’s position that the institution of marriage should be defined by the voters of South Dakota and not the federal courts. Because this case presents substantial legal questions and substantial public interest the Federal Court has stayed its judgment allowing South Dakota law to remain in effect pending the appeal.” – GOP South Dakota Attorney General Marty …

“United States District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier, a President Bill Clinton appointee with ties to former Democrat Senator Tim Johnson, has taken it upon herself to attack the institution of marriage, the South Dakota Constitution, and pour contempt on the will of the people of South Dakota who voted in 2006 to affirm in our state constitution what every …

And the number of red states shrinks again.

Read the ruling. From its conclusion: In Loving, the Supreme Court addressed a traditionally accepted definition of marriage that prohibited Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving from marrying. Because Virginia’s laws deprived that couple of their fundamental right to marriage, the Court struck down those laws. Little distinguishes this case from Loving. Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to marry. South Dakota …

The images above come to you from South Dakota’s grammatically-challenged “Driving Proper” campaign. (Via Aksarbent)

The above federal court today denied South Dakota’s demand for the dismissal of the marriage equality lawsuit filed in late May. The dismissal demand was denied, in part, on the basis of case precedent that the court today ruled as “not controlling.” But much more interesting is the Court’s statement on last week’s ruling by the Sixth Circuit Court of …

Via KSFY-ABC in Sioux Falls: There’s a development in the lawsuit to overturn South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage. The Minneapolis-based lawyer, Joshua Newville, does not want the case to go to trial. Instead, he wants the judge to rule the ban is unconstitutional, and legalize same-sex marriage. And he says he has precedence on his side. Newville enlisted the …

This weekend the South Dakota state GOP passed a resolution calling for the impeachment of President Obama. The resolution says Obama has “violated his oath of office in numerous ways.” It specifically cites the release of five Taliban combatants in a trade for captive U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl, Obama’s statement that people could keep insurance companies, and recent EPA regulations …

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackely has filed a motion to dismiss the marriage equality suit filed by three local couples including Nancy Robrahn, 68, and Jennie Rosenkranz, 72, (above) who were married after 27 years together in an April ceremony officiated by the mayor of Minneapolis. According to the state, the plaintiffs have not presented “any plausible claim” of …

Clip recap: “More than sixteen and a half million Americans gained marriage equality last week, with decisive victories in Oregon and Pennsylvania. We have brand new lawsuits in the last few states that needed one. And the National Organization for Marriage has suffered even more losses this week.”

Via the Associated Press: Six couples filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to block South Dakota’s gay marriage ban, leaving North Dakota as the only state in the country with an unchallenged law prohibiting same-sex weddings. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has said he’s obligated by law to defend both the state constitution and state statutes. He’s among the …

“Certainly there are board-certified doctors in our state who will attest to what seems self-evident to so many: gay sex is not good for the body or mind. Pardon a crude comparison but regarding men with men, we are talking about a one-way alley meant only for the garbage truck to go down. Frankly, I’d question the judgment of doctor …

South Dakota’s first marriage equality lawsuit is on the way. Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges will officiate at the weekend marriage of a lesbian couple from South Dakota as the women prepare to take part in a groundbreaking lawsuit to force their home state to recognize their union. The couple, Nancy Robrahn, 68, and Jennie Rosenkranz, 72, say that along with …

Via Good As You.

On Sunday I posted a petition from the South Dakota Democratic Party in opposition to a bill that would legalize anti-gay discrimination on the basis of “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Yesterday the Associated Press spoke with the bill’s author, who has introduced a second bill that outlaws forcing ministers to conduct same-sex marriages. (Which has never happened anywhere in the …

From the South Dakota Democratic Party: “SB 67 was introduced in the South Dakota state legislature on January 21. It allows discriminatory businesses to refuse service to the LGBT community. We must stop SB 67 from becoming law. Please sign the petition if you believe discrimination against any South Dakotans for who they are has no place in our laws. …

The above billboard has gone up in seven locations across South Dakota. The Friendly Atheist links to the story: “The point of our national awareness campaign is to reach out to the millions of humanists, atheists and agnostics living in the United States,” explained Fred Edwords, national director of UnitedCoR. “Non-theists sometimes don’t realize there’s a community for them because …