FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2013
PRESS CONTACTS:
Elizabeth Riel elizabeth@afer.org
Manny Rivera manny@afer.org
AFER Office 323.892.2081 or press@afer.org
U.S. Government Calls on Supreme Court to Recognize Marriage Equality in Proposition 8 Case
READ THE UNITED STATES’ BRIEF HERE:
Washington, DC – Today, Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., filed a brief on behalf of the United States Government as amicus curiae in support of the Plaintiffs challenging California’s Proposition 8 in Hollingsworth v. Perry.
The Government’s brief urges the Supreme Court to affirm the landmark
federal court of appeals ruling that upheld the decision of the federal
district court that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.
In its brief, the Government argues that Proposition 8 should be
subject to heightened judicial scrutiny because it discriminates on the
basis of sexual orientation. Since Proposition 8 cannot be justified as
substantially furthering any important state interest, it violates the
Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.
Adam Umhoefer, executive director of the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the sole sponsor of the Perry case, issued the following statement:
“The brief filed by the Solicitor General is a powerful statement
that Proposition 8 cannot be squared with the principles of equality
upon which this nation was founded. It is an unprecedented call to
action by our Government that it is time to recognize gay and lesbian
Americans as full and equal citizens under the law. AFER looks forward
to having Solicitor General Verrilli and the Federal Government by our
side as we make the case for marriage equality for all before the
Supreme Court.”
Enacted in November 2008, Proposition 8 eliminated the fundamental
freedom of gay and lesbian Californians to marry. On December 7, 2012,
the Supreme Court granted review in Perry to consider whether
Proposition 8 violates the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of
the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Court
will hear oral argument in Perry on March 26, 2013.
READ THE UNITED STATES’ BRIEF HERE: www.afer.org/blog/friend-of-the-court-briefs-filed-with-u-s-supreme-court/
READ THE PLAINTIFFS’ BRIEF HERE: www.afer.org/blog/read-afers-powerful-supreme-court-brief/
READ THE PROPONENTS’ BRIEF HERE: www.afer.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-01-22-Proponents-Brief.pdf
READ THE SUPREME COURT’S ORDER GRANTING CERTIORARI HERE: www.afer.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2012-12-07-Certiorari-Granted.pdf
READ THE NINTH CIRCUIT’S DECISION HERE: www.afer.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2012-02-07-Decision-on-Merits.pdf
READ THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT’S DECISION HERE: www.afer.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Prop8Decision.pdf
###
About the American Foundation for Equal Rights
The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of Hollingsworth v. Perry,
the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8.
After bringing together bipartisan attorneys Theodore B. Olson and
David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry
case through Federal District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals. The case is currently before the United States Supreme Court.
The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage
equality.
No comments:
Post a Comment