Amicus Briefs Present Findings Of States Where Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal In Petitions Seeking Review Of Marriage Bans By The U.S. Supreme Court
Schneiderman: My Office Is Committed To Defending The Fundamental Guarantee Of Equal Protection
NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has joined Massachusetts and 13 other States in filing amicus briefs in support of petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court. Those petitions seek review of appellate court decisions striking down same-sex marriage bans in Utah, Oklahoma, and Virginia, and argue that the Supreme Court should rule that same-sex marriage bans are constitutional. The multi-state briefs also ask the Supreme Court to review the cases, but urge the Court to instead confirm that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry.
The multi-state briefs urge the Supreme Court to accept review even though the lower court decisions upheld the rights of same-sex couples because marriage prohibitions are still in place in other States. Swift, nationwide resolution of the right of same-sex couples to marry is necessary to prevent ongoing harm to same-sex couples and continued violation of their constitutional rights. The filing is consistent with Attorney General Schneiderman’s long commitment to ensuring marriage equality and follows an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court last year in United States v. Windsor, in which Attorney General Schneiderman successfully argued that the Defense of Marriage Act violated the U.S. Constitution.
The New York State Attorney General's Office remains committed to combating discrimination based on sexual orientation. To file a complaint, contact the Office's Civil Rights Bureau at 212-416-8250 or Civil.Rights@ag.ny.gov