Case to be Filed against North Dakota’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban
The case is expected to be filed by Joshua Newville, a Minneapolis-based civil rights attorney. Newville also filed the suit against South Dakota’s ban [in May]. He intends to file the case in the next six to eight weeks.
Human Rights Campaign Blog, May 27
Dave in Northridge Diaried the announcement briefly in Marriage Equality? All the States without it will have Lawsuits now.
We do not know the details of this suit yet, particularly who the plaintiffs will be, but we do have other bits of information.
North Dakota was until this the last state remaining without a Marriage Equality lawsuit of any kind. Mississippi and Tennessee have suits asking for recognition of marriages performed in other states, but not suits for full Marriage Equality. Such suits are in preparation.
I reported the South Dakota lawsuit here on May 22.
Breaking: Marriage Equality Suit in South Dakota (updated)
At that time, the North Dakota suit was under discussion.
Joshua Newville says he’s been contacted by interested couples in North Dakota who want to challenge the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
North Dakota voters approved a state constitutional amendment barring Marriage Equality in 2004, as part of Karl Rove's national push to motivate the Republican base to the polls against John Kerry.
Freedom to Marry, May 22: North Dakota Mayor becomes 400th Mayor for the Freedom to Marry and the first in North Dakota.
WaPo, May 25: The nation’s last unchallenged state same-sex marriage ban is about to lose that status
Newville is in talks with advocates and attorneys in North Dakota and confirmed that either he or another attorney will bring a lawsuit against that state’s ban within six to eight weeks.
The New Civil Rights Movement, May 27:
Everybody’s In! North Dakota Marriage Equality Lawsuit Announced
There are no details yet on who the plaintiffs would be and if they are already married and are seeking recognition, or not married and seeking the right to marry — or both.
Going by recent filings in other states, including the South Dakota suit led by the same firm, and my own state of Indiana, my money is on "both", and on running the table from here on in. More to come, then.
4:47 PM PT: Update: Suit filed June 6. PDF of complaint