Category Archives: Federal Courts
DOJ comes out swinging against DOMA
The Department of Justice on July 1 recommended a federal appeals court in California dismiss a motion promoted by the House of Representatives to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Judge rejects call to vacate decision in Proposition 8 case
As expected, a federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday refused to vacate last year's landmark ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Motion to vacate Proposition 8 ruling seems unlikely
SAN FRANCISCO - It now seems unlikely that a federal judge will vacate a landmark decision in which a gay judge ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Judicial neutrality on trial, with a Supreme backdrop
Openly gay Judge Vaughn Walker won’t be in the courtroom next Monday (June 13)—at least not physically. But he’ll certainly be there in name--and so may be U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
Gay court nominee distances himself from Lawrence brief
When openly gay federal district court nominee Paul Oetken went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in March, Senator Charles Grassley was the only Republican who showed up. He introduced Oetken, who was born in his home state of Iowa,
Yes on 8: Gay judge’s ruling shouldn’t count
Proponents of Proposition 8 filed a motion Monday, April 25, in federal district court, seeking to vacate the August 2010 ruling by Judge Vaughn Walker that the initiative is unconstitutional, citing Walker’s recent disclosure that he is gay.
Law firm drops contract to defend DOMA
Less than a week after a law firm signed a contract to represent the U.S. House in defending DOMA in federal court, the law firm began to withdraw from the agreement.
Arrest made in Miller-Jenkins custody battle
A man accused of helping a former lesbian sneak a child out of the country, violating a court order that the mother turn the child over to her former same-sex partner, was arrested April 18 and will be arraigned in
House hired gun goes to work on DOMA; HRC attacks
The U.S. House has obligated itself to pay more than $500,000 for outside attorneys to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal courts. And the House has chosen a firm which clearly prides itself on including LGBT lawyers among
House hearing contentious on DOJ-DOMA decision
Democrats came out swinging Friday, April 15, during a House subcommittee hearing on the Department of Justice announcement that it would curtail its defense of the federal ban on recognition of same-sex marriages.
