Texas LGBT activists have filed amicus briefs in a case pending before the Texas Supreme Court (Pidgeon v. Harris) where the City of Houston’s ability to provide spousal benefits to married same-sex couples is being challenged. The case, brought against the City of Houston by anti-LGBT lobbyists Jonathan Saenz and Jared Woodfill, would specifically block…
5th Circuit winds up same-sex marriage hearings
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans held center stage today while it heard appeals of same-sex marriage cases from Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The three appeals were heard by Judge Jerry E. Smith (a Reagan appointee), James E. Graves (an Obama appointee) and Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham (another Regan…
Texas marriage equality fight heads to New Orleans
On January 9, the plaintiffs in the Texas marriage equality lawsuit will head to New Orleans where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit will hear the state’s appeal of U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s ruling that struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The case has reached the 5th Circuit thanks…
2014 in Review: Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions
HONORABLE MENTIONS Leading the Fight for Equality: The Texas Marriage Team On January 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans will hear the State of Texas’ appeal of U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s ruling that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. This case would never have reached the…
Garcia denies motion to lift stay on Texas marriage ban
With one month left before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans takes up the constitutionality of Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia has denied a motion to lift the stay on his ruling that struck down that ban. “Lifting the stay would not bring finality…
Bexar County Clerk ready to issue licenses if stay lifted on Texas marriage ban
The Texas Observer is reporting that Bexar County Clerk Gerard C. “Gerry” Rickhoff is ready to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples if U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia lifts the stay of his February decision that found the Texas equal marriage ban unconstitutional. On November 24, attorneys with Akin Gump, the law firm representing plaintiffs Vic…
Motion filed to lift stay on Texas equal marriage ban
In a Facebook post on November 24, Mark Phariss, one of the plaintiffs in the Texas equal marriage case announced, “Our attorneys with Akin Gump filed a motion with the federal district court this morning to lift the stay.” Along with his post, Phariss added this excerpt from the motion: If something were to happen…
5th Circuit court to hear Texas marriage case in January
Despite the hope of LGBT activists that the case would be heard sooner, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans has tentatively scheduled arguments challenging Texas’ same-sex marriage ban for early next year, during the week of January 5. Mark Phariss and his partner Vic Holmes of Plano, along with…