By Lisa Keen on March 27, 2013
Today’s argument in the U.S. Supreme Court over the Defense of Marriage Act sounded at times as if President Obama was on trial for enforcing the law even though he considers it unconstitutional. At other times, it sounded like Congress was on trial.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on March 26, 2013
The U.S. Supreme Court took the marriage equality issue on a roller coaster ride Tuesday as it heard almost 90 minutes of argument in the case testing the constitutionality of California’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on February 21, 2013
One month away from the most historic and, perhaps, influential U.S. Supreme Court cases in LGBT history, a surprising number of facts are still unknown.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on December 7, 2012
In a surprise development, the U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it will review both the Proposition 8 case concerning a statewide ban on same-sex marriage and a DOMA case concerning a ban on federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 1, 2012
On its first official day of the 2012-13 session, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday did not include the Proposition 8 case on the list of cases it would or would not review.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on June 28, 2012
In a dramatic move with significant political and economic implications, a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday (June 28) voted to uphold President Obama’s landmark health care reform law.
Posted in Federal Courts, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on January 25, 2012
The battle lines between the constitutional right to free exercise of religion and laws prohibiting discrimination are seeing some action at the U.S. Supreme Court these days.
Posted in News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 18, 2011
The ACLU called it “one of the most important religious liberty cases in years” and said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the matter would determine whether religious organizations have “the right to discriminate based on non-religious grounds.”
Posted in News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 11, 2011
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday (October 11) refused to hear a case that challenged a sort of “back door discrimination” against a gay couple by a Louisiana state official.
Posted in Adoption, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on July 14, 2011
Lambda Legal Defense is taking its fight for same-sex families to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, Adar v. Darlene Smith, involves a gay male couple–Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith–who sought an amended birth certificate for the boy they adopted in the state of New York.
Posted in Adoption, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on March 2, 2011
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an anti-gay protester’s demonstrations in close proximity to a private funeral service are protected by the First Amendment.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on January 18, 2011
The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday refused to hear the appeal of a group of clergy in Washington, D.C., who want to put the city’s new marriage equality law on the ballot.
Posted in Issues, Law, Marriage/Relationships, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on November 12, 2010
In a move that did not catch anyone by surprise, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday denied a request from attorneys for Log Cabin Republicans to vacate an order that enabled the military to continue enforcing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Lawsuits, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 21, 2010
A lawsuit over a referendum on same-sex marriage has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. And it’s not Proposition 8.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 7, 2010
Fred Phelps’ followers say their hate-filled messages constitute a contribution to public discourse. But, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, attorney Sean Summers argued that these messages, when conveyed outside the funeral of a fallen soldier, inflict an injury for which the group should be made liable.
Posted in Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on October 4, 2010
There are some important First Amendment cases coming before the U.S. Supreme Court in the session that begins today. The most important case for the LGBT community at the moment is Snyder v. Phelps, which the court will hear on Wednesday, October 6.
Posted in Federal Courts, Law, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on September 14, 2010
At first glance, it might draw a yawn: Elena Kagan, the U.S. Supreme Court’s newest member, has recused herself from some upcoming cases. But ruminate for a few minutes over this list of cases that could be before the court within a few years.
Posted in A closer look, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Issues, Law, Marriage/Relationships, News, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on August 4, 2010
Senator Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, said he would oppose Elena Kagan’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court because she has “a history of ignoring the law when it conflicts with the gay rights agenda.”
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on July 20, 2010
Both “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and same-sex marriage continued to be a prominent focus of the confirmation proceedings for Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, as the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday recommended the confirmation.
Posted in Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, U.S. Supreme Court
By Lisa Keen on June 30, 2010
Never before in the history of Supreme Court confirmation hearings have gay issues played such a prominent role.
Posted in Don't Ask Don't Tell, Federal Courts, Issues, Law, News, Nominees, U.S. Supreme Court
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
Immigration bill advances without provisions for same-sex couples
Leahy submits language to help bi-national same-sex couples
Delaware votes for marriage equality; becomes 11th state to make it the law
Rhode Island marriage law signed; Two more states could vote next week
President praises pro athlete Jason Collins for courage to come out