Category Archives: Federal Courts

Court loss with a silver lining

Efforts to secure equal benefits for a gay federal court employee in San Francisco suffered a setback Wednesday when a federal judge dismissed the employee’s lawsuit. But Lambda Legal Defense says the dismissal has a silver lining.

Supreme Court rules Phelps hate protests are protected speech

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.

Obama DOJ says DOMA is unconstitutional

The Obama administration made a blockbuster announcement Wednesday, saying it has concluded that one part of the Defense of Marriage Act will not be able to pass constitutional muster in the 2nd Circuit and that DOJ would not defend that

Olson-Boies ask 9th Circuit to lift stay on lower court ruling

Ted Olson, lead attorney for the lawsuit challenging California’s same-sex marriage ban, announced Wednesday that he is asking the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to lift a stay on a district court ruling that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

HHS rescinds Bush era reg that gave doctors a broad religious excuse to to refuse care

The Dept. of Health and Human Services said it "strongly supports" regulations which protect the rights of health care providers from being "compelled to perform or assist in an abortion." But what it did not say was of greater interest

California high court will weigh in on Yes on 8 standing issue

The road to marriage equality in California just got a little longer. The California Supreme Court said today it would make ruling on whether Yes on 8 proponents have authority, under California law, to appeal a federal court ruling that

A second big relationship case in 9th Circuit Monday

So much attention has been paid to the landmark challenge to California’s ban on same-sex marriage that another very important case regarding gay couples has gone almost unnoticed. And this latter case will be heard before the 9th Circuit U.S.

Reaction mixed to Pentagon status report; 9th Circuit case to proceed

Reaction has been mixed to the Pentagon’s status report Friday, January 28, saying training to prepare for implementation of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell could begin as early as next month.

Obama appoints 3 to prominent positions

President Obama on January 26 appointed two prominent gays to important positions in his administration and nominated an openly gay attorney to a judgeship for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Federal Court Hears Case on Interstate Recognition of Same-Sex Adoption

A federal circuit court heard arguments January 19 in a case that asks whether states must recognize adoptions by same-sex parents from other states--and the outcome could have "frightening" implications for the rights of adoptive parents.