Varnum v. Brien
In December 2005, Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of six same-sex couples who seek to marry in Iowa. The lawsuit argues that, under the equal protection and due process guarantees of the Iowa Constitution, it is unlawful to bar same-sex couples from marrying. On August 30, 2007, nearly two years after six same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses by Polk County Recorder Timothy Brien, an Iowa trial court ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. Polk County appealed the ruling and the case is now before the Iowa Supreme Court. Because the lawsuit is based on state law, the Iowa Supreme Court will have the final word on the outcome of this case. The couples in this case have been together between five and over 16 years. Three of the couples are raising children, others are planning families, and all want the responsibilities of marriage and the protections only marriage can provide.
Most recently in March 2008, fifteen amicus briefs or friend-of-the court briefs were filed in support of the marriage lawsuit. These briefs were signed by well over 250 of the individual signatories are Iowans, likely representing thousands of other Iowans through each signatory organization's membership. Included among these briefs are a faith leaders brief signed by nearly 200 faith leaders who support marriage for same-sex couples, a judicial independence brief, underscoring that this matter is the court's responsibility to decide, signed by current and former elected officials including former Lieutenant Governors Joy Corning and Sally Pederson, and two briefs filed on behalf of children's advocates and signed by the Middleton Children's Rights Center at Drake, Youth Shelter Services in Ames, the National Association for Social Workers and their Iowa chapter.
Here is a complete listing of the amicus briefs filed on behalf of the plaintiffs:
