Abstract
In Obergefell v Hodges, the United States Supreme Court declared that there was a constitutional right to marriage equality. This case note explores this decision, and the central position played by Justice Anthony Kennedy in securing equal rights for same-sex couples under the law. This case illustrates the power of one judge to influence and shape the direction the law takes.
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Notes
Finland, Ireland and Slovenia have all passed laws which allow for same-sex marriage, but these were not in force as of the end of July 2015.
Obergefell et al. v Hodges, Director, Ohio Department of Health, et al., 576 U.S. (2015).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 28 (Kennedy J).
See National Federation of Independent Business et al v Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al., 567 U.S. (2012), slip. op. at 2 (Roberts CJ).
Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003).
Baehr v Miike, 74 Haw. 530, 852 P.2d 44 (S Ct Haw 1993).
U.S. Constitution, Amnd 14, §1. This section contains guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law.
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) (Pub.L. 104–199, 110 Stat. 2419, enacted September 21, 1996, 1 U.S.C. § 7 and 28 U.S.C. § 1738C).
Baker v Nelson, 181 N.W. 2d 185 (S Ct Minn 1971).
181 N.W. 2d 185, 186, quoting Skinner v Oklahoma ex rel. Williamson, 316 U.S. 535, 541 (1942).
Baker v Nelson, 409 U.S. 810 (1972).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 7 (Kennedy J).
“The Legality of Homosexual Marriage,” The Yale Law Journal 82 (1973): pp. 573–589.
Bowers v Hardwick, 478 U.S. 786 (1986).
Romer v Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996).
Lawrence v Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003).
539 U.S. 558 (2003), at 574 (Kennedy J).
United States v Windsor, 570 U.S. (2013).
570 U.S. (2013), slip. op. at 22 (Kennedy J).
570 U.S. (2013), slip. op. at 20 (Kennedy J).
570 U.S. (2013), slip. op. at 23–24 (Scalia J).
Obergefell v Wymyslo, 962 F. Supp. 2d 968, 973 (S.D. Ohio 2013).
Bishop v US ex. Rel. Holder, 962 F. Sup. 2d 1252, 1278 (N.D. Okla. 2013).
Kitchen v Herbert, 961 F. Supp. 2d 1181, 1194 (D. Utah 2013).
Bourke v Beshear, F. Supp. 2d 2014.
Bostic v Raney, 970 F. Supp. 2d 456, 476 (E.D. Va. 2014).
Whitewood v Wolf, 992 F. Supp. 2d 410, 425–26 (M.D. Pa. 2014).
Wolf v Walker, 986 F. Supp. 2d 982, 1010, 1017 (W.D. Wisc 2014).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 23, 24 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 25 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 28 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 3 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 4 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 3–4 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 6 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 7 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 22 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 11 (Kennedy J).
Duncan v Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 147–149 (1968).
Griswold v Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 484–486 (1965).
Poe v Ullman, 367 U.S. 497, 542 (1961) (Harlan J, dissenting).
Loving v Virginia, 388 U.S. 1, 12 (1967).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 11–12 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 12 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 18 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 12 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 13 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 13 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 14–15 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 16–17 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 19 (Kennedy J); Zablocki v Redhail, 434 U.S. 374 (1978).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 21 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 19 (Kennedy J).
539 U.S. 558 (2003), at 578 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 20 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 23 (Kennedy J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 6 (Alito J).
388 U.S. 1 (1967).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 1 (Thomas J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 6 (Thomas J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 6 (Scalia J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 7 (Scalia J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 8–9 (Scalia J).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 2 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 25 (Roberts CJ).
Williamson v. Lee Optical of Okla., Inc., 348 U.S. 483, 488 (1955).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 9 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 10 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 19 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 19 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 23–24 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 20–21 (Roberts CJ).
“Obergefell v. Hodges: The Ruling and Its Implications for Religious Freedom,” Religious Freedom Project, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, available at http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/cornerstone/obergefell-v-hodges-the-ruling-and-its-implications-for-religious-freedom.
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 27 (Roberts CJ).
576 U.S. (2015), slip op. at 27 (Roberts CJ).
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Frost, T. The Promise of Liberty to All: The Long March to Marriage Equality. Liverpool Law Rev 36, 171–182 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-015-9168-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-015-9168-5