Category Archives: Federal Courts

Olson lauds Virginia judge’s ‘eloquent’ decision, expresses confidence on appeal

A federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia, today struck down the state’s ban on same-sex couples marrying but stayed the execution of her order, that the state stop enforcing the law, pending appeal to the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The

Olson: Judge in Virginia marriage ban case says she’ll rule ‘soon’

A federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia, told attorneys in a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s ban on same-sex couples marrying that she will render her decision “soon.” According to David Boies, one of the lead attorneys arguing against the ban, U.S. District Court

GLAD scores major victory in Maine supreme court for transgender students

In an historic first, a state supreme court ruled yesterday that a male-to-female transgender student who was accepted by school staff and students as a girl could not be barred from using the girls’ bathroom at school.

Virginia attorney general won’t defend marriage ban in court

The attorney general of Virginia announced this morning that his office will no longer defend the constitutionality of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Prisoner with GID has right to accepted medical treatment, says fed appeals court

A federal appeals court Friday affirmed a district judge’s order that a state prison violated the constitutional rights of a prisoner with severe gender disorder when it refused to provide sex reassignment surgery.

Oklahoma ban ‘insulting’ to same-sex couples, says federal judge

In yet another stunning victory for marriage equality, a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled Tuesday that the state’s ban on same-sex couples obtaining marriage licenses is unconstitutional.

Utah AG says state may not recognize 1,300 marriages of same-sex couples

The Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that he was “unable to reach a legal conclusion as to the ultimate validity of marriage between persons of the same sex who completed their marriage ceremony in

Utah ban back in force for at least three months or more on appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court order granting a stay of the December 20 district court order that prohibited Utah from enforcing its ban on same-sex marriage allows Utah to resume enforcing the ban “pending final disposition” of the appeal of that

Opposition brief due today on Utah request for stay of marriage decision

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor gave attorneys representing same-sex couples in Utah until noon today to file a brief in opposition to Utah's request for a stay of a federal district court decision that struck down the state's ban

Fallout over Supreme Court decision: New Jersey, other states court fights intensify

After the fireworks surrounding its landmark rulings on two cases involving same-sex marriage, the U.S. Supreme Court quietly dispensed with nine other DOMA-related petitions last week, denying their requests for review.