IMPORTANT CASE LAW

FEDERAL CASE LAW
LAWRENCE v. TEXAS Decided June 26, 2003
The sodomy case that overruled Bowers v Hardwick, creating a right to consensual adult intimacy. Presaged Goodridge and quoted therein.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-102.ZS.html

ROMER v. EVANS Decided May 20, 1996
Overruling of Colorado constitutional amendment preventing special civil rights protections for homosexuals (excellent and informative dissent)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/94-1039.ZS.html


STATE CASE LAW
NATIONAL PRIDE AT WORK v. STATE OF MICHIGAN Decided February 1, 2007
Appeals court Ruling upholding State Marriage Amendment and preventing Universities and municipalities from granting marriage like benefits to same-sex partners.
http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20070201_C265870_104_265870.OPN.PDF

GOODRIDGE v. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (2003)
The notorious Massachusetts ruling in favor of re-defining marriage. Excellent dissents from three liberal Judges.
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/supremejudicialcourt/goodridge.html
(or)
http://www.masslaw.com/signup/opinion.cfm?page=ma/opin/sup/1017603.htm

HERNADEZ v. NEWYORK (2006)
Level headed State Supreme Court Ruling claiming no authority to re-define marriage.
http://marriagelaw.cua.edu/NY%20decision.pdf
(or)
http://lmaw.org/freedom/docs/NY-Hernandez%20v%20Robles2.pdf

ANDERSEN v. KING COUNTY, Decided August 4, 2004
By far the strongest State court decision against a “right” to same-sex “marriage” Excellent concurrences by Justice Johnson & Sanders (a must read!)
http://marriagelaw.cua.edu/Law/King%20Superior%20Court%20Opinion.pdf

More Complete Case Law Sites

The Marriage & Law Projects Case Files
http://marriagelaw.cua.edu/law/courts.cfm

Freedom to “Marry” – Reading Room
http://lmaw.org/freedom/tr_docs.htm