San Francisco, Calif., Sep 29, 2010 / 04:43 am
More than 25 friend-of-court briefs showing “wide-ranging concerns” about marriage and other issues have been filed in support of Proposition 8, the 2008 California ballot measure which defined marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Among the briefs is one by 13 state attorneys general.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case is defended by the ProtectMarriage.com legal team, which includes attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a Monday ADF press release says.
The ADF contended that the briefs demonstrate “the breadth of support for marriage, the amendment, and the state’s initiative process currently under attack” in litigation surrounding the federal lawsuit Perry v. Schwarzenegger.
One joint brief defending Prop. 8 came from attorneys general from the states of Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Another brief represented religious liberty concerns by religious groups including Korean churches in California and Catholics, Protestants, and Latter Day Saints nationwide.
Other briefs had support from the American College of Pediatricians, Concerned Women for America, American Civil Rights Union, Eagle Forum, Catholics for the Common Good, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Family Research Council, and family policy councils from 29 states
While the case would directly affect the 61 million Americans under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit, ADF senior council Brian Raum said what is at stake is “bigger than California and bigger even than marriage.”
“These briefs demonstrate the wide-ranging concerns about marriage, voter rights, judicial activism, religious liberty, and other issues and how they will be affected nationwide if this lawsuit is allowed to prevail,” he commented. “A diverse number of Americans understand that this lawsuit seeks to impose -- through a San Francisco court -- an agenda that America has repeatedly rejected.”
Oral arguments in the case will be held the week of Dec. 6.
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