Skip to Content

When did Obergefell V Hodges start?


The landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges is the culmination of decades of legal battles and activism by the LGBTQ+ community. This case revolved around the issue of same-sex marriage and whether it was protected under the Constitution. The case was finally heard by the United States Supreme Court in 2015, and the ruling set the stage for major progress in the fight for equal rights.

The Origins of the Case

The case of Obergefell v. Hodges began in 2013, when a same-sex couple from Ohio got married in Maryland. At the time, Ohio did not recognize same-sex marriage, and when one of the partners, John Arthur, passed away, his surviving spouse, Jim Obergefell, was not listed on the death certificate. This led to Obergefell filing a lawsuit against the state of Ohio, arguing that the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage violated the Constitution.

The case quickly gained national attention, and it was eventually consolidated with other cases from Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, all of which had similar issues related to same-sex marriage.

The Supreme Court Hears the Case

On April 28, 2015, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. The central issue was whether same-sex couples had a constitutional right to get married and have their marriages recognized by all states. The plaintiffs argued that the right to marry was a fundamental right protected by the Constitution, specifically the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Opponents of same-sex marriage argued that marriage was a sacred institution that had always been defined as between one man and one woman, and that allowing same-sex couples to marry would undermine the institution of marriage and harm children.

The Landmark Ruling

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that the Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, stating, “The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment couples of the same sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty.”

The ruling was a major victory for the LGBTQ+ community, and it had implications beyond just marriage. The decision recognized that LGBTQ+ individuals are entitled to the same legal protections and dignity as everyone else, and it paved the way for further progress in the fight for equal rights.

Conclusion

The case of Obergefell v. Hodges began with a simple desire for recognition and equal treatment under the law. It developed into a national legal battle that culminated in a landmark ruling that recognized the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry. The decision was a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and it will be remembered as a crucial step towards a more just and equal society.

FAQ

What does the 14th Amendment say about marriage?


The 14th Amendment is a critical component of the United States Constitution that is designed to protect the rights of all individuals. Specifically, the 14th Amendment guarantees every person equal protection under the law. This guarantee extends to a person’s right to marry whomever they choose, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other factor.

In recent years, the 14th Amendment has become the cornerstone of marriage equality in the United States. In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause guarantees the right of same-sex couples to marry. This landmark decision ended legal discrimination against same-sex couples who had been denied the right to marry based on their sexual orientation.

The majority opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges held that same-sex couples have the same constitutional right to marry as opposite-sex couples. The Court held that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees “equal dignity in the eyes of the law” and that this guarantee includes the right to marry. The opinion also stated that “marriage is a fundamental right” that is “central to personal dignity and autonomy.”

Prior to the Obergefell decision, many states had laws on the books that prohibited same-sex couples from marrying or recognized marriage as between one man and one woman only. These laws were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in light of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, which mandates that all people be treated equally under the law.

The 14th Amendment guarantees that every person has equal protection under the law, including the legal right to marry the person of their choosing. The landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges solidified the idea that marriage is a fundamental right that should be extended to all.

What was the legal brief of Obergefell V Hodges?

Obergefell v Hodges was a landmark case in which the United States Supreme Court held that the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. The case revolved around several same-sex couples who wanted to marry, but were denied the right to do so in their respective states. In order to obtain this right, they filed lawsuits, which eventually made their way to the Supreme Court, where they were consolidated into one case, Obergefell v Hodges.

The legal brief of the case centered on the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Due Process Clause guarantees that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, while the Equal Protection Clause requires that all people be treated equally under the law. The question before the Supreme Court was whether the Constitution granted same-sex couples the right to marry and if a state could deny them that right.

The Supreme Court ruled that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty. The Court stated that “the right to personal choice regarding marriage is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy,” and that same-sex couples should have the same right to marry as opposite-sex couples.

The Court’s decision in Obergefell v Hodges was groundbreaking, not just because it granted same-sex couples the right to marry, but because it elevated the right to marry to the level of a fundamental right under the Constitution. This means that states cannot arbitrarily infringe on this right without a compelling reason, and that any such infringement must be narrowly tailored to serve a legitimate state interest.

The legal brief of Obergefell v Hodges focused on the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the fundamental right to marriage. By recognizing that same-sex couples have the same right to marry as opposite-sex couples, the Supreme Court affirmed the Constitutional protection of individual liberty and equality under the law.

Who established the power of judicial review?


The power of judicial review, which allows the Supreme Court to review and potentially invalidate laws and acts passed by the legislative and executive branches of government, is a crucial component of the American system of checks and balances. The man most closely associated with establishing this power is Chief Justice John Marshall.

In the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803, Marshall and his fellow justices declared a provision of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional and therefore null and void. In doing so, Marshall laid out the principle that the Supreme Court had the authority to declare laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the executive branch unconstitutional and therefore invalid.

Marshall’s reasoning was based on the notion that the Constitution was the supreme law of the land and that any law or action in violation of the Constitution could not stand. He argued that it was the duty of the judiciary to interpret the Constitution and to ensure that both Congress and the president were acting within the bounds of that document.

The power of judicial review was not universally accepted at the time, and some of Marshall’s contemporaries criticized his decision in Marbury v. Madison as overstepping the bounds of the judiciary’s authority. Nonetheless, it gradually became established as a fundamental aspect of the American system of government.

Over the years, the Supreme Court has used the power of judicial review to strike down numerous laws and actions taken by the other branches of government. Some of the most well-known examples include Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, and Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide.

Despite its importance, the power of judicial review remains a somewhat controversial aspect of American government, with some politicians and scholars arguing that it enables unelected judges to exert too much power over the democratic process. Nonetheless, it remains a crucial safeguard against potential abuses of power by the legislative and executive branches, and its future is likely to remain a subject of debate and discussion.