Lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s same-sex marriage ban filed in state court
September 26, 2013
LGBT Legal Cases Marriage equality Marriage Equality Trials
A new lawsuit was filed in state court in Pennsylvania challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Twenty-one couples who obtained a marriage license from the Montgomery County Clerk filed the lawsuit, which raises federal and state law questions. A separate challenge was filed earlier by the ACLU in federal court.
The new case is seeking to preserve the legality of marriage licenses issued during a short window of time in Montgomery County; the county clerk was ordered by a judge to to stop issuing the licenses, and the legality of existing licenses has yet to be decided.
The Associated Press reports:
Both of the challenges argue that the law, which defines marriage as the union of “one man and one woman,” violates the U.S. Constitution, but Wednesday’s filing claims that it also violates the state constitution.
In another case, a Commonwealth Court judge earlier this month ordered the clerk, D. Bruce Hanes, to stop issuing the licenses because he has no power to decide whether or not the law is constitutional. The county vowed to appeal the ruling.
The state lawsuit also asks the court to affirm the legality of the plaintiffs’ marriages.
“To lift the cloud over their unions, plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that their marriages are valid under Pennsylvania law,” the lawsuit says.
The ACLU case only raises federal claims under the US Constitution.
4 Comments
1.
Anonymous | October 14, 2013 at 1:18 am
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time
to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want
to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I wish to read even more things about it!
2.
snprickett.com | October 20, 2013 at 11:59 pm
Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading
it, you will be a great author.I will ensure that I bookmark
your blog and will eventually come back very soon.
I want to encourage continue your great job, have a nice morning!
3.
Ivory | March 15, 2014 at 2:45 am
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that
“perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appeal.
I must say that you’ve done a amazing job with this.
Also, the blog loads extremely quick for me on Opera.
Outstanding Blog!
4.
Grupo Santana Cazorla | May 14, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Great weblog here! Also your web site lots up fast!
What host are you using? Can I am getting
your associate link in your host? I desire my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol