Amici Profile: Rev. Art Cribbs and the United Church of Christ

Reverend Art Cribbs

The legal challenge to Proposition 8 is supported by hundreds of religious organizations, civil rights groups, and labor unions, along with numerous California municipal governments, bar associations, and leading legal scholars, who have collectively urged the California Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8.

“As an African-American pastor with the United Church of Christ in San Marino, I am particularly troubled by Prop. 8′s impact on people who are hurt by its passage. I am reminded of the struggles black communities have faced and continue to face in this country. I am reminded of the damage a majority can and has sometimes inflicted against groups in the past. And I am reminded of the need we all have for equal protection under the law.”

visit the United Church of Christ website

read Rev. Art Cribbs’ statement (pdf)

read the brief filed by California Council of Churches, et al., to which the United Church of Christ signed-on (pdf)

Amici Profile: Lisa Cisneros and California Rural Legal Assistance

Lisa Cisneros, California Rural Legal Assistance

The legal challenge to Proposition 8 is supported by hundreds of religious organizations, civil rights groups, and labor unions, along with numerous California municipal governments, bar associations, and leading legal scholars, who have collectively urged the California Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8.

“CRLA supports the case against Prop. 8 because same-sex couples and their families are part of the rural, low-income communities we serve. In recent years, CRLA has served an increasing number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients, many with especially severe cases of workplace harassment and pay discrimination. Government discrimination against same-sex couples in the area of civil marriage sends an official message of second-class citizenship for LGBT people. It creates a mixed message that undermines existing anti-discrimination laws, as well as the prospects for equal dignity and opportunity for LGBT people.”

visit CRLA’s website

read Lisa Cisneros’ statement (pdf)

read the brief filed by Alameda County Bar Association, et al., to which CRLA signed-on (pdf)

Amici Profile: Eva Paterson and the Equal Justice Society

Eva Paterson, President, Equal Justice Society

“The Equal Justice Society has joined the many civil rights groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, the California State Conference of the NAACP, the Japanese American Citizens League, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, to name just a few, who believe that Prop. 8 is wrong – and a radical change to our state Constitution that cannot be accomplished through a ballot initiative.”

visit Equal Justice Society’s website

read Eva Paterson’s statement here (pdf)

read the brief filed by Equal Justice Society and other civil rights organizations (pdf)

Thoughts on The Lawsuit Challenging Prop 8

Both the defenders of Prop 8 and its challengers have filed their briefs with the California Supreme Court in the litigation seeking to overturn the popular vote that has reinstated a ban on same-sex marriage. (Amicus briefs were filed on January 15.) A number of commentators have opined that those seeking to have Prop 8 invalidated have little chance of success. My view: not so fast.

read more from Hunter of Justice 01.16.09
read more on the amicus briefs filed in the Prop 8 legal challenge

Family Law Specialists Argue That Proposition 8 Must Be Invalidated as Unconstitutional Attempt to Repeal Inalienable Rights

Los Angeles Certified Family Law Specialist Leslie Shear, as lead author on behalf of the California Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (ACFLS) joined by the Northern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has filed an amicus brief in support of Attorney General Jerry Brown’s position that the California Supreme Court must hold Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

read more (pdf)

Google- Supporting Equality

Read Google’s announcement about why they signed an amicus brief (pdf) in support of our case challenging Proposition 8 in the California Supreme Court.

Religious and Civil Rights Groups, Legislators, Bar Associations, Labor, Businesses, and Legal Scholars Urge Court to Overturn Prop 8

Google, California Council of Churches, California NAACP, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, and California Rural Legal Assistance among groups submitting friend-of-the-court

01.15.09—Today, hundreds of religious organizations, civil rights groups, and labor unions, along with numerous California municipal governments, bar associations, and leading legal scholars collectively urged the California Supreme Court to strike down Proposition 8. Dozens of amicus curiae or “friend of the court” briefs argue that Proposition 8 drastically alters the equal protection guarantee in California’s Constitution, and that the rights of a minority cannot be eliminated by a simple majority vote.

read more

click here for an updated list of Prop 8 Legal Challenge Amici (pdf)

Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief Urging California Supreme Court to Invalidate Proposition 8

Brief filed in response to Court’s invitation after it deferred action on Nov. petition

01.15.09—Civil rights groups today filed an amicus brief with the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8 because it would mandate discrimination against a minority group and did not follow the process required for fundamental revisions to the California Constitution.

read more
read the brief (pdf)

Religious Leaders, Faith Organizations to Court: Invalidate Prop 8

1.14.09—Today, the California Council of Churches and other religious leaders and faith organizations representing millions of members filed an amicus curiae brief with the California Supreme Court urging the Court to invalidate Proposition 8. The brief argues that Proposition 8 poses a severe threat to the guarantee of equal protection for all and was not enacted through the constitutionally required process for such a dramatic change to the California Constitution.

read more
read the brief (pdf)

Reform Judaism Enters Brief Against Prop. 8

Edge Boston

The Union for Reform Judaism today joined with other civil rights and faith organizations to file an amicus brief challenging Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that revoked gay marriages.

“Over the past several years, through court orders, executive action, and legislation, states across the country are increasingly ensuring the right to marriage equality. Proposition 8 is a step in the wrong direction,” said Mark Pelavin, associate director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, in a statement.

click here to read the full article