Press release re Gay Marriage Cases

The California Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the position taken by the Beverly Hills Bar Association in an amicus (friend of the court) brief. In the Gay Marriage Cases, the Court held that state laws purporting to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples violate the California Constitution. The Court explained that the right to marry a person of one's choice is a fundamental constitutional right and no compelling state interest justifies discriminating against same-sex couples regarding marriage.

The Association's brief urged the Supreme Court to so hold. The brief emphasized that California's existing public policy treats same-sex couples as the functional equivalent of heterosexual couples, and they should therefore be treated equally with heterosexual couples for all purposes.

The Association's brief was authored by Association members Irving H.Greines and Cynthia E. Tobisman of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP. Other bar associations signing on to the Association's brief included the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, the California Women Lawyers, and the Women Lawyers of Los Angeles. The brief was also joined in by the San Diego County Bar Association.

In its decision, the Supreme Court acknowledged the considerable assistance provided by amicus briefs in analyzing the significant issues presented by the case.
 

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