Illinois Gay Marriage Lawsuit May Proceed, Judge Rules

Judge: Illinois Gay Marriage Lawsuit May Proceed
Camilla Taylor, marriage project director for Lambda Legal, speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Chicago. More than two dozen gay Illinois couples who say it?s unconstitutional for the state to deny them the right to marry and will file two lawsuits Wednesday, a move advocates believe could lead to legalized gay marriage in Illinois. The two lawsuits, filed by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and New-York based gay advocacy group Lambda Legal, include couples from Chicago and its suburbs, Bloomington and Marion. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Camilla Taylor, marriage project director for Lambda Legal, speaks at a news conference, Wednesday, May 30, 2012, in Chicago. More than two dozen gay Illinois couples who say it?s unconstitutional for the state to deny them the right to marry and will file two lawsuits Wednesday, a move advocates believe could lead to legalized gay marriage in Illinois. The two lawsuits, filed by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and New-York based gay advocacy group Lambda Legal, include couples from Chicago and its suburbs, Bloomington and Marion. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Story by Matt Simonette, courtesy Windy City Times:

A judge ruled Sept. 27 that a lawsuit filed on behalf of several Cook County same-sex couples wishing to marry can proceed.

Ruling on a motion to dismiss Darby v. Orr and Lazaro v. Orr, Judge Sophia Hall, who is a lesbian, dismissed three of the five claims, but allowed two—claims to violation of equal protection as well as due process—to stay. The court will reconvene Oct. 8.

The lawsuits were filed against Cook County Clerk David Orr in mid-2012. The plaintiffs in the case are being represented by Lambda Legal and ACLU Illinois. Orr, who is in favor of marriage equality, has refused to defend the state's marriage ban, so the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm, is representing five opposing county clerks in the matter.

Before You Go

Connecticut

Gay Marriage In The United States

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot