Date: Jul 2, 2015

Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages: Fifth Circuit Upholds Obergefell v. Hodges in Texas

Introduction

In the landmark case of Cleopatra DE LEON et al. v. Greg Abbott, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit addressed a pivotal issue concerning the recognition of same-sex marriages in the state of Texas. The plaintiffs, comprising two same-sex couples, challenged Texas statutes that denied them the right to marry and sought recognition of their out-of-state marriages. The defendants included high-ranking state officials such as the Governor of Texas and the Texas Attorney General. This case gained significant attention as it intersected with the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which fundamentally altered the legal landscape for same-sex marriage in the United States.

Summary of the Judgment

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's preliminary injunction that barred the enforcement of Texas laws denying same-sex couples the right to marry and recognizing their marriages performed in other jurisdictions. This affirmation was significantly influenced by the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established that the right to marry is a fundamental liberty protected by the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Consequently, the Fifth Circuit held that Texas's constitutional and statutory provisions excluding same-sex couples from marriage were unconstitutional.

Analysis

Precedents Cited

The judgment heavily referenced the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which overruled the earlier case of Baker v. Nelson. In Obergefell, the Court determined that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, and states must both permit such marriages and recognize those performed in other states. This precedent was pivotal in guiding the Fifth Circuit's decision to uphold the injunction against Texas's discriminatory laws.

Legal Reasoning

The court's legal reasoning centered on the application of the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses. By invoking Obergefell, the court established that marriage is a fundamental right inherent to personal liberty. Therefore, any state law that restricts marriage to opposite-sex couples constitutes a violation of these constitutional protections. Additionally, the court acknowledged the First Amendment implications, recognizing the state's obligation to balance constitutional rights without infringing upon religious freedoms or other protected beliefs.

Impact

This judgment has far-reaching implications for the recognition of same-sex marriages within the Fifth Circuit's jurisdiction, which includes Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. By affirming the injunction, the court ensured that same-sex marriages legally performed in other states must be recognized in Texas, thereby reinforcing the federal mandate established by Obergefell. This decision not only upholds the rights of same-sex couples but also sets a precedent for other states within the circuit to follow, promoting nationwide consistency in marriage laws.

Complex Concepts Simplified

Due Process Clause

Part of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Due Process Clause ensures that no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. In this context, it protects individuals' fundamental rights to marry.

Equal Protection Clause

Also within the Fourteenth Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause requires states to treat all individuals equally under the law. Discriminatory marriage laws violating this clause are deemed unconstitutional.

Amici Curiae

Latin for "friends of the court," amici curiae are individuals or organizations that are not parties to a case but are allowed to submit information, expertise, or insights relevant to the case to assist the court in making a decision.

Conclusion

The Fifth Circuit's affirmation of the district court's injunction in Cleopatra DE LEON v. Greg Abbott underscores the judiciary's role in upholding constitutional protections for same-sex couples. By aligning with the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision, the court reinforced the fundamental right to marry irrespective of sexual orientation. This judgment not only advances civil rights within the Fifth Circuit but also exemplifies the broader legal trend towards equality and nondiscrimination in marital laws across the United States.

Case Details

Cleopatra DE LEON; Nicole Dimetman; Victor Holmes; Mark Phariss, Plaintiffs–Appellees, v. Greg ABBOTT, in His Official Capacity as Go

Year: 2015 Court: United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Judge(s)

Jerry Edwin Smith

Attorney(S)

Barry Alan Chasnoff, Daniel McNeel Lane, Jr., Esq., Matthew Edwin Pepping, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., Frank Stenger–Castro, San Antonio, TX, Michael P. Cooley, Andrew Forest Newman, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., Dallas, TX, Jessica M. Weisel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., Los Angeles, CA, for Plaintiffs–Appellees. Scott A. Keller, Solicitor, Jonathan F. Mitchell, Kyle David Highful, Beth Ellen Klusmann, Esq., Michael P. Murphy, Office of the Solicitor General for the State of Texas, James Davis Blacklock, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel for the Governor of Texas, Austin, TX, for Defendants–Appellants. Deborah Jane Dewart, Attorney, Swansboro, NC, for Amici Curiae North Carolina Values Coalition and Liberty, Life, and Law Foundation. David Christopher Boyle, Long Beach, CA, for Amici Curiae David Christopher Boyle, Katy Faust, B.N. Klein, Robert Oscar Lopez and Dawn Step Anowicz. Mathew D. Staver, Esq., Anita Leigh Staver, Esq., Maitland, FL, Mary Elizabeth McAlister, Lynchburg, VA, for Amicus Curiae Liberty Counsel. Kevin Trent Snider, Chief Counsel, Sacramento, CA, for Amicus Curiae Paul McHugh. Jon Roy Ker, Esq., Hewitt, TX, for Amicus Curiae Social Science Professors. Thomas Molnar Fisher, Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, for Amici Curiae State of Indiana, State of Alaska, State of Arizona, State of Colorado, State of Idaho, State of Montana, State of Oklahoma, State of South Carolina, State of South Dakota and State of Utah. Robert Smead Hogan, Esq., Hogan Law Firm, P.C., Lubbock, TX, for Amici Curiae Professor Alan J. Hawkins and Professor Jason S. Carroll. Richard Arthur Bordelon, Ralph Joseph Aucoin, Sr., Denechaud & Denechaud, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, for Amici Curiae United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Association of Evangelicals Church of Jesus Christ Of Latteor–Day Saints, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Lawrence John Joseph, Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae Texas Eagle Forum and Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund. David Robert Nimocks, Esq., Washington, DC, Robert Paul Wilson, San Antonio, TX, for Amici Curiae Texas Values and Louisiana Family Forum. Steven W. Fitschen, Esq., Counsel, National Legal Foundation, Virginia Beach, VA, for Amicus Curiae Concerned Women for America. Dean John Sauer, Clark & Sauer, L.L.C., Saint Louis, MO, for Amicus Curiae 23 Scholars of Federalism and Judicial Restraint. Eric C. Rassbach, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Stuart Kyle Duncan, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae State of Louisiana. Steven James Griffin, Esq., Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell, P.A., Jackson, MS, for Amicus Curiae Helen M. Alvare. William C. Duncan, Lehi, UT, for Amicus Curiae Marriage Law Foundation. Michael Francis Smith, Smith Appellate Law Firm, Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae Robert P. George and Sherif Girgis, Ryan T. Anderson. Russell Henry Withers, Austin, TX, for Amicus Curiae Texas Conservative Coalition. Cecilia M. Wood, Austin, TX, for Amicus Curiae Center for the Preservation of American Ideals. David Robinson, North Haven, CT, pro se. David Robert Upham, Esq., Irving, TX, pro se. Leif A. Olson, Olson Firm, P.L.L.C., Humble, TX, for Amici Curiae United States Pastor Council and Coalition of African American Pastors. George David Carter, Jr., Arent Fox, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae Law Enforcement Officers, First Responders, and Organizations. Paul March Smith, Jenner & Block, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae American Psychological Association, Texas Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, National Association of Social Workers and National Association of Social Workers Texas Chapter. Benjamin Gross Shatz, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, L.L.P., Los Angeles, CA, for Amicus Curiae Gary J. Gates. Jyotin Rustom Hamid, Esq., Joseph Benjamin Rome, Debevoise & Plimpton, L.L.P., New York, N.Y., for Amicus Curiae Professor Carlos A. Ball. Rebecca L. Robertson, Attorney, Houston, TX, for Amici Curiae Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Public Interest Organizations Bar Associations, American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, API Equality LA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles, Human Rights Campaign, League of United Latin American Citizens, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation and National LGBT Bar Association. Nicholas M. O'Donnell, Sullivan & Worcester, L.L.P., for Amicus Curiae GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality. Kenneth Dale Upton, Jr., Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, Incorporated, Dallas, TX, for Amicus Curiae Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Incorporated. Carmine Daniel Boccuzzi, Jr., Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, L.L.P., New York, N.Y., for Amicus Curiae American Sociological Association. Catherine Emily Stetson, Esq., Hogan Lovells US, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae, Historians of Antigay Discrimination. Suzanne Beth Goldberg, New York, N.Y., for Amicus Curiae Columbia Law School Sexuality and Gender Law Clinic. Roberta Ann Kaplan, Jacob Harris Hupart, Jaren Elizabeth Janghorbani, Joshua David Kaye, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, L.L.P., New York N.Y., for Amici Curiae Suzanne Bryant, Clinton Chamberlain, Karon Frances Cook, Julie Elliott–Abshire, Stephanie Elliott–Abshire, James Fair Child, III, David M. Garza, Sarah Goodfriend, Martin Harrison, Heather Hauch, John S. Hogg, Thomas Koenig, Kristy Kyle, Noellanduyt, Kristy Noble, Donald Puryear, Christ A. Robbins, Toni Roddey, Gary Schumman, Jason Stark, Angel Valdez and J. Brook Ward. Berrie Rebecca Goldman, San Francisco, CA, Keith Miles Aurzada, Bryan Cave, L.L.P., Dallas, TX, for Amici Curiae Family Equality Council and Colage. Jiyun Cameron Lee, Folger Levin, L.L.P., San Francisco, CA, for Amicus Curiae Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Incorporated. Ryan Patrick Delaney, Delaney & Robb Attorneys at Law, L.L.C., Metairie, LA, for Amicus Curiae Howard University School of Law Civil Rights Clinic. Rachel M. Kleinman, New York, N.Y., for Amicus Curiae NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Incorporated. Christopher Dowden Man, Chadbourne & Parke, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae Outserve–SLDN and American Military Partner Association. Paul Reinherz Wolfson, Wilmer Hale, Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders. Elizabeth Bonnie Wydra, Chief Counsel, Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae CATO Institute and Constitutional Accountability Center. Michael Louis Whitlock, Esq., Bingham McCutchen, L.L.P., Washington, DC, for Amicus Curiae 36 Employers and Organizations Representing Employers. Jonathan Benjamin Miller, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, for Amici Curiae State of Massachusetts, State of California, State of Connecticut, State of Delaware, District of Columbia, State of Hawaii, State of Illinois, State of Iowa, State of Maine, State of Maryland, State of New Hampshire, State of New Mexico, State of New York, State of Oregon, State of Vermont and State of Washington. John J. McKetta, III, Esq., Boyce C. Cabaniss, Esq., Daniel Omar Ramon, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C., Austin, TX, for Amici Curiae Historians of Marriage, Peter W. Bardaglio, Norma Basch, Stephanie Coontz, Nancy F. Cott, Toby L. Ditz, Laura F. Edwards, Michael Grossberg, Hendrik Hartog, Ellen Herman, Martha Hodes, Linda K. Kerber, Alice Kessler–Harris, Elaine Tyler May, Serena Mayeri, Steven Mintz, Elizabeth Pleck, Carole Shammas, Mary L. Shanley, Amy Dru Stanley and Barbara Welke. Jerome Cary Roth, Munger, Tolles & Olson, L.L.P., San Francisco, CA, Nicole Susan Phillis, Munger, Tolles & Olson, L.L.P., Los Angeles, CA, for Amici Curiae Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, Austin LGBT Bar Association, Bar Association of San Francisco, Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association, Colorado Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Bar Association, Dallas Gay and Lesbian Bar Association, Freedom to Marry, Lambda Law Society of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah Bar Association, LGBT Bar Association of Maryland Love Honor Cherish, Marriage Equality USA, Matthew Shepard Foundation, Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio, Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, New Mexico Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association, Ogalla, The LGBT Bar Association of Oregon, Oklahomans For Equality, Outlaw Indiana University Maurer School Of Law, Outlaw University of Texas School of Law, Outlaws S.J. Quinney School of Law at the University of Utah, Qlaw the GLBT Bar Association Of Washington, SMU Outlaw Southern Methodist, University Dedman School of Law, Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia, Incorporated, Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston and Stonewall Bar Association of Michigan. Emily J. Martin, Marcia Devins Greenberger, Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae National Women's Law Center, Gender Justice, Legal Momentum, Legal Voice, National Association of Women Lawyers, National Partnership for Women and Families, Ohio Womens Bar Association, Southwest Women's Law Center, Women's Law Project, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and Professors of Law Associated with the Williams Institute. Jeffrey Samuel Trachtman, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, L.L.P., New York, N.Y., for amici Curiae Episcopal Bishop of Northwest Texas, General Synod of the United Church of Christ, Mormons for Equality, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, Union for Reform Judaism, Unitarian Universalist Association, Affirmation, Covenant Network of Presbyterians, Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns, Methodist Federation for Social Action, More Light Presbyterians, Presbyterian Welcome, Reconciling Ministries Network, Reconcilingworks, Lutherans for Full Participation, Religious Institute, Incorporated and 240 Texas Faith Leaders and Communities. Marjory A. Gentry, Esq., Sean Michael Callagy, Esq., Arnold & Porter, L.L.P., San Francisco, CA, for Amicus Curiae Family Law and Conflict of Laws Professors. Diane M. Soubly, Stevenson Keppelman Associates, Ann Arbor, MI, for Amici Curiae Ashutosh Bhagwat, Lee Bollinger, Erwin Chemerinsky, Walter Dellinger, Michael C. Dorf, Lee Epstein, Daniel Farber, William E. Forbath, Barry Friedman, Ellen D. Katz, John C. Jeffries, Jr., Lawrence Lessig, William Marshall, Frank Michelman, Jane S. Schacter, Suzanna Sherry, Geoffrey R. Stone, David Strauss, Laurence Tribe and William Van Alstyne. Rocky Chiu-feng Tsai, Ropes & Gray, L.L.C., San Francisco, CA, for Amici Curiae Anti–Defamation League, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Bend The Arch, A Jewish Partnership for Justice, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Global Justice Institute, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Hindu American Foundation, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, Japanese American Citizens League, Jewish Social Policy Action Network, Keshet, Metropolitan Community Churches, More Light Presbyterians, National Council of Jewish Women, Nehirim, People for the American Way Foundation, Presbyterian Welcome, Reconcilingworks, Lutherans for Full Participation, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Society for Humanistic Judaism, T'ruah, The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, Women of Reform Judaism and Women's League for Conservative Judaism.