Friday February 17, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 07 |
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Sunday, Nov 22, 2009
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New Jersey Supreme Court hears oral arguments in marriage equality case |
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| New Jersey Supreme Court hears oral arguments in marriage equality case | ||
| 'We've been waiting 34 years to get married.'
The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments this morning in Lambda Legal's case seeking marriage for same-sex couples in that state. "The families we serve have finally had their day in the state's highest court, and if we win these families will be stronger for it," said David Buckel, Marriage Project Director who argued the case as lead attorney for Lambda Legal. "New Jersey is a unique state and more than ready to fulfill the New Jersey Constitution's promise of equality and liberty for the over 16,000 same-sex couples who live here." During the arguments, which lasted just over an hour, the justices peppered both attorneys with questions. Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit against the State of New Jersey in June 2002 on behalf of seven same-sex couples seeking marriage. After appealing at both the trial court and middle appellate court levels, the last stop for this case is the New Jersey Supreme Court. "We've been waiting 34 years to get married," said Chris Lodewyks and Craig Hutchison, plaintiffs in the case. "All these years we've been through so many of life's joys and sorrows together - it really is long past time that we should be able to marry." The plaintiffs, who were all in attendance at the argument today are: Mark Lewis and Dennis Winslow, two Episcopalian pastors from Union City, Hudson County who have been a couple for 15 years. Karen and Marcye Nicholson-McFadden, who have been together 16 years and are raising a six-year-old son, Kasey, and three-year-old daughter Maya; Saundra Heath-Toby and Alicia Toby-Heath, who have been together 17 years and are leaders in Newark's Liberation In Truth Unity Fellowship church; Craig Hutchison and Chris Lodewyks, who have been a couple for 34 years and live in Pompton Lakes; Marilyn Maneely and Diane Marini, a southern New Jersey couple who were together for 14 years before Marilyn died tragically in the fall of 2005; Sarah and Suyin Lael, a 15-year couple raising three girls, eight-year-old Zenzali, six-year-old Tanaj and five-year-old Danica; and Maureen Kilian and Cindy Meneghin, a couple of 31 years with a 13-year-old son, Josh, and an 11-year-old daughter, Sarah. Susan Sommer, Senior Counsel at Lambda Legal is also on the case. Lawrence S. Lustberg and Megan Lewis of Gibbons, DelDeo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, one of New Jersey's largest and most prestigious law firms, are cooperating attorneys for Lambda Legal on this case. Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals, Transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. A Lambda Legal press release |
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