Category Archives: Federal Courts
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.
The T-shirt Wars: Courts struggle to find balance between free speech and harassment
A recent federal court decision--in a case stemming from a conservative response to GLSEN's Day of Silence--has upheld the right of students to express certain anti-gay sentiments.
5th Circuit upholds Louisiana’s denial to gay dads
In a case that calls into question the responsibility of states to recognize adoptions granted in other states, a federal circuit court said Louisiana does not have to put the names of two gay fathers on the birth certificate of
DOJ to married green card applicants: DOMA still applies
Just days after putting the applications for green cards on hold for same-sex married couples, the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced it is back to processing them again--with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in play.
Green card applications for married gays on hold awaiting DOJ guidance
U.S. immigration officials confirmed that the green card applications of immigrants who are in marriages with same-sex partners who are American citizens will be "held in abeyance" until the Department of Justice provides "final guidance related to distinct legal issues"
