Tag Archives: Wisconsin

“We are deeply disappointed but not surprised at this ruling. We knew we had the most liberal panel of judges on the 7th Circuit. When they denied the state’s request to have the case heard before all ten judges on the court, we pretty much knew what to expect. I was in the courtroom last Tuesday. I knew then what …

From the editorial board of the New York Times: As important as the federal appeals court ruling was on Thursday declaring same-sex marriage bans in two states to be unconstitutional, the clarity and blunt reasoning behind the decision was equally momentous. Writing for a unanimous three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Judge Richard …

“I am very troubled that this court failed to recognize the self-evident truth that children need and deserve a mom and dad. The ruling doesn’t appear to allow society to choose to maintain a coherent definition of marriage. The courts have no true constitutional authority to unilaterally change the definition of our most fundamental social institution. Yet this court is …

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says he will appeal today’s ruling to the Supreme Court. Van Hollen’s spokeswoman, Dana Brueck, said in an email to The Associated Press that Van Hollen has always believed the case will be decided in the that court. U.S. District Judge Barbra Crabb struck down the ban as unconstitutional in June. Hundreds of gay …

The ruling is here. UPDATE: Via the Muncie Star Press. A U.S. appeals court in Chicago ruled Thursday that gay marriage bans in Wisconsin and Indiana violate the U.S. Constitution — thereby bumping the number of states where gay marriage will be legal from 19 to 21. The unanimous decision by the three-judge panel of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court …

Clip recap: Anti-gay attorneys took a beating before the Seventh Circuit last week, trying and failing to defend marriage bans before a panel of hostile judges. Now all eyes are on the Supreme Court to see which cases they’ll take up in their fall session. There’s another major marriage argument coming up in a few days. And the National Organization …

Via the Associated Press: Federal appeals judges bristled Tuesday at arguments defending gay marriage bans in Indiana and Wisconsin, with one Republican appointee comparing them to now-defunct laws that once outlawed weddings between blacks and whites. Judge Richard Posner, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, was dismissive when Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Timothy Samuelson repeatedly pointed to ‘tradition’ as …

The judges are just brutal with the Solicitor General of Indiana.

Each judge – Posner, Williams and Hamilton – skeptical of arguments for marriage bans. My prediction: 3-0 ruling for #MarriageEquality.— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) August 26, 2014 Reagan-appointed Posner most vocal in skepticism, asking Qs about why states want to children with same-sex parents to be worse off. — Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) August 26, 2014 Williams expressed confusion over procreation argument …

A long line has formed outside the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago this morning for today’s hearing of the marriage equality lawsuits for Indiana and Wisconsin. I’ll be posting live-tweets from the scene and audio/video as it becomes available. Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson is on the scene. UPDATE: Today’s panel of judges has been announced.

Here’s a reminder for next week: On Tuesday, August 26th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit will hear arguments in court cases from Indiana and Wisconsin in which federal district courts ruled against the states’ bans on marriage for same-sex couples. Baskin v. Bogan of Indiana – which was consolidated with Lee v. Pence and Midori Fujii …

Clip recap: There’s been some action in western states this week. Wisconsin organizers have formed a new group called Wisconsin Unites for Marriage. Their goal is public education while also persuading Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen to drop his defense of the state’s marriage ban. A federal judge ruled against Wisconsin’s law in June, and oral argument in an …

“Dear Marriage Supporter, On Tuesday, the retail giant Target signed on to an amicus brief for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in two pending cases challenging the definition of marriage in Indiana and Wisconsin. Target joins with a number of other companies in signing the brief, including the Starbucks Coffee Company. But it is the spirit behind the brief, …

Minneapolis-based retail giant Target today filed amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs in same-sex marriage lawsuits against the states of Wisconsin and Indiana. The Human Rights Campaign reacts: “Today Target joins a growing chorus of Americans and businesses that know these bans on marriage equality serve no purpose other than to harm families,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President …

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 …

Via the Associated Press: The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced Friday on its online docket that it has rescheduled oral arguments for both states’ appeals of federal court decisions for Aug. 26. Federal judges in Indiana and Wisconsin overturned each state’s gay marriage ban in separate rulings. When both states appealed, the 7th Circuit Court combined the cases …

Clip recap: Another week, and another win for marriage equality. This time, it’s Florida. But the freedom to marry is in jeopardy in Colorado. Meanwhile an appeals court has set a date for oral argument in two states, but then said never mind. And the Department of Justice has indicated its plans for addressing the freedom to marry before the …

Wisconsin Democrats have sent a letter to Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, telling to stop wasting state money on lawsuits to fight same-sex marriage. Fifteen Democratic state senators and 25 Democratic representatives sent letters to Walker and Van Hollen on Wednesday. Van Hollen last week appealed a federal judge’s ruling that the state’s ban is unconstitutional. …