In a long-awaited decision, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that stripped the right to marry from same-sex couples in California, is unconstitutional. Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt authored the majority decision, which was joined by Judge Michael Daly Hawkins. The third judge, N. Randy Smith, dissented. The majority affirmed the August 2010 ruling by retired United States District Judge Vaughn R. Walker—but on a...
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Shannon Minter
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments on two issues in Perry v. Brown, the federal court challenge to Proposition 8. In that case, two same-sex couples are challenging Prop 8, the 2008 ballot measure that stripped the right to marry from same-sex couples in California. Following a historic trial that took place in January 2010, now-retired Chief District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that Prop 8 is unconstitutional. That ruling has been on hold while the...
This morning, the California Supreme Court heard arguments on an important issue of California law that may affect whether the sponsors of Proposition 8 can continue to pursue their federal court appeal in Perry v. Brown, the case challenging Prop 8. The federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing the appeal from federal District Judge Vaughn R. Walker’s August 2010 ruling striking down Prop 8. This January, the Ninth Circuit asked the California Supreme Court to answer a specific...
On August 29, 2011, U.S. District Court Judge James Ware will hear arguments about whether to unseal the video recordings of the historic trial in Perry v. Brown, the federal court challenge to Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that stripped the freedom to marry from same-sex couples in California. After a three-week trial in January 2010, now-retired Chief District Judge Vaughan Walker issued a decision in August 2010, holding that Prop 8 was based on anti-gay animus and blatantly...
Today brings momentous news from President Barack Obama and the federal Department of Justice about the discriminatory and offensive so-called “Defense of Marriage Act,” or DOMA. This morning, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that, at the urging of the President, as well as based upon Mr. Holder’s own assessment, the Department of Justice will no longer defend Section 3 of DOMA—the section that prohibits the federal government from recognizing legal marriages between same-sex couples....
(Washington, DC, September 30, 2008)—Shannon Minter, Legal Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and lead attorney in the California Supreme Court case that allowed same-sex couples to marry, is the featured speaker at the 2008 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair, October 10 and 11, in Washington, DC. Mr. Minter is one of the nation’s leading advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. He began his law career as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in...
(San Francisco, CA, September 23, 2008)— The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) today announced that The Daily Journal has named NCLR Legal Director Shannon Price Minter to its annual list of California’s Top 100 Lawyers, honoring those who are “shaping the future through their work.” Minter was recognized for his achievements in the fight for marriage equality in California. The list is featured in the September 17, 2008 issues of the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San...
National Gay and Lesbian Bar Association honors Minter and Therese Stewart for outstanding work in marriage cases (San Francisco, CA, August 12, 2008)—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) today announced that Legal Director Shannon Price Minter and San Francisco Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart are the recipients of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA) 2008 Dan Bradley Award. Minter and Stewart will be recognized for their remarkable achievements in the fight...
University Recognizes Seven Attorneys for Outstanding Leadership (San Francisco,CA, January 7, 2008) — The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) today announced that Legal Director Shannon Price Minter will receive Cornell Law School and Cornell Law Association’s Annual Exemplary Public Service Awards. Seven outstanding alumni were chosen from nominations submitted by fellow alumni, and will be honored in New York City on February 7, 2008. Fellow alumni selected Minter “for his work in...