State Will Not Appeal, 300 Same-Sex Marriages Recognized
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 4, 2015)
Gov. Rick Snyder said today he will not appeal U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith’s ruling recognizing the validity of the approximately 300 same-sex couples married in four counties of Michigan on March 22, 2014 and issued the following statement:
“The judge has determined that same-sex couples were legally married on that day, and we will follow the law and extend state marriage benefits to those couples.
“I appreciate that the larger question will be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court this year. This is an issue that has been divisive across our country. Our nation’s highest court will decide this issue. I know there are strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and it’s vitally important for an expedient resolution that will allow people in Michigan, as well as other states, to move forward together on the other challenges we face.”
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan last year on behalf of eight couples who wed immediately after a federal decision struck down the state’s ban and before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that decision.
“We’re thankful that the state finally has made the wise choice to acknowledge the vows that these couples made and to recognize the love that these families share,” said Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBT Project. “These marriages were performed at a time when marriage equality was legal. We’re elated that, with the recognition of their marriages, these couples no longer have to live under a dark cloud of confusion and uncertainty.”
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith issued a preliminary injunction that forced the state to recognize couples who were married in March 2014 when Michigan’s ban was temporarily lifted. Judge Goldsmith’s decision did not take effect until 21 days after the ruling, however.
According to the Judge Goldmith’s opinion: “In these circumstances, what the state has joined together, it may not put asunder… Michigan’s nonrecognition policy divests Plaintiffs of an essential human dimension in their lives — the legally recognized bond of committed intimacy in a marriage that was solemnized and recognized as valid by the challenging state — the loss of which unquestionably wounds them deeply.”
The oc115 has been following the DeBoer case from the very beginning, and the case that came from the resulting marriages. Here are our previous stories leading up to this point, and the video from the day couples married:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/01/12/michigan-same-sex-marriage-case-not-yet-heard-by-scotus-jan-16-possible/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/16/state-of-michigan-tells-court-marriages-never-existed/https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/06/gay-marriage-victory-reversed-on-appeal-updated/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/10/06/gay-marriage-update-five-states-gain-equality-michigan-decision-expected-soon/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/08/22/arguments-heard-in-same-sex-marriage-case/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/04/14/aclu-sues-michigan-to-recognize-marriages-of-same-sex-couples/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/28/federal-government-recognizes-michigan-same-sex-marriages/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/27/senators-and-reps-ask-us-ag-to-recognize-michigan-gay-marriages/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/26/state-wont-recognize-same-sex-marriages-made-over-weekend/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/24/state-spent-40000-on-testimony-in-deboer-case-plans-appeal-2/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/22/first-gay-marriages-in-michigan-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/22/same-sex-marriages-put-on-hold-as-temporary-stay-is-granted/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/21/judge-rules-gay-marriage-ban-struck-down/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/08/29/treasury-recognizes-all-same-sex-marriages-for-tax-purposes-2/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/02/01/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-cases-explained/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/02/24/hazel-park-couples-week-in-court-begins/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/06/27/hazel-park-case-could-pave-the-way-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/03/09/judge-decides-to-wait-on-adoption-gay-marriage-decision-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/05/demonstrators-try-to-stay-warm-while-states-case-runs-cold/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/02/ferndalians-channel-leaders-past-spread-love-in-hopes-for-equality-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/03/02/opponents-to-equality-make-big-showing-in-support-biblical-marriage/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/02/08/ultimate-lgbt-wedding-expo-comes-to-southfield-april-12/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/10/05/wayne-county-prosecutor-kym-worthy-steps-up-to-support-hazel-park-couple-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/07/24/clerk-brings-in-new-lawyers-to-defend-in-hazel-park-couples-case/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/07/02/hazel-park-lesbian-couples-case-moves-forward/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/06/28/strikes-down-michigan-domestic-partner-health-care-ban/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/06/26/reaction-to-gay-marriage-rulings/