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Your Guide To The Legal Battle Over Same Sex Marriage In Idaho
Amber and Rachael filed their lawsuit against Idaho in Nov. 2013. They were married Oct. 15, 2014.In November 2013, eight women -- four couples -- sued the state of Idaho over its 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.The plaintiffs, Susan Latta and Traci Ehlers, Lori Watsen and Sharene Watsen, Shelia Robertson and Andrea Altmayer, and Amber Beierle and Rachael Robertson, say Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage violates equal protection and due process guarantees.Two of the couples have been legally married in other states and two have tried to get Idaho marriage licenses and been denied.Their case went to U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale in May 2014. On May 13, eight days after Dale heard the case, she struck down Idaho's same-sex marriage ban.Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden appealed that ruling in an effort to uphold Idaho's Constitution as approved by voters in 2006.On Oct. 7, 2014, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Dale's ruling, striking down Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage. After more than a week of legal challenges, same-sex marriages began Oct. 15, 2014 in Idaho.

Oregon Judge Denies Motion to Intervene In Gay Marriage Case

NWNews | By Chris Lehman,
Chris Lehman
Published May 14, 2014 at 12:36 PM MDT
Plaintiffs gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate the denial of the motion to intervene.
Chris Lehman
/
Northwest News Network
Plaintiffs gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate the denial of the motion to intervene.

A federal judge in Eugene has denied a national group's attempt to defend Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage. U.S. District Judge Michael McShane said the National Organization of Marriage failed to prove why it should be allowed to intervene in the case.  

Plaintiffs gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate the denial of the motion to intervene.
Credit Chris Lehman / Northwest News Network
/
Northwest News Network
Plaintiffs gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate the denial of the motion to intervene.

  The ruling came immediately following a hearing this morning. The judge did not indicate when he would rule on the underlying merits of the case. Four Oregon same-sex couples sued to overturn the 2004 voter-approved law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Gay rights advocates said today's ruling gives them hope. An attorney for the National Organization For Marriage says his group plans to appeal the judge's denial of the motion to intervene.

Copyright 2021 Northwest News Network. To see more, visit Northwest News Network.

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Northwest News Network OregonGay Marriage
Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.
See stories by Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.

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