Illinois Court to hear oral arguments in Lambda Legal and ACLU marriage cases
Tue. September 25, 2012 5:58 PM
Save the date: Thursday, September 27 10:00 a.m.
Chicago, IL -
On Thursday, September 27, 2012, the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division will hear oral argument concerning whether the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), an anti-gay organization dedicated to advancing the view that gay people are sinful, may intervene two cases brought by same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry in Illinois, Darby v. Orr and Lazaro v. Orr.
On May 30, 2012, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois each filed lawsuits representing a total of 25 same-sex couples from across the state of Illinois seeking the freedom to marry. Two days later, the Illinois Attorney General's office filed papers agreeing that the ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. The Cook County Clerk and States Attorney also agree that the marriage ban is unconstitutional. After the Tazewell and Effingham County Clerks moved to intervene, promising a vigorous defense of the marriage ban, the Court entered an unopposed order permitting them to intervene as defendants. . Soon after, the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-gay group based in Arizona, moved to intervene on behalf of IFI, an organization with a history of making derogatory and untruthful statements about lesbian and gay people. Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois have opposed IFI's efforts to intervene.
WHO: Emily Nicklin, of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, on behalf of Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois.
WHAT: Oral Arguments in Darby v. Orr
WHERE: Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division 50 West Washington Street, Room 2301
WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM
***Plaintiffs will be at the hearing***
Camilla Taylor, National Marriage Project Director and Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney in LambdaLegal's Midwest Regional Office are handling the case Darby v. Orr for Lambda Legal. John Knight, Harvey Grossman and Karen Sheley are handling the case Lazaro v. Orr for the ACLU of Illinois. They are joined by Emily Nicklin, Jordan M. Heinz and Amy Crawford of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago.
On May 30, 2012, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois each filed lawsuits representing a total of 25 same-sex couples from across the state of Illinois seeking the freedom to marry. Two days later, the Illinois Attorney General's office filed papers agreeing that the ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. The Cook County Clerk and States Attorney also agree that the marriage ban is unconstitutional. After the Tazewell and Effingham County Clerks moved to intervene, promising a vigorous defense of the marriage ban, the Court entered an unopposed order permitting them to intervene as defendants. . Soon after, the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-gay group based in Arizona, moved to intervene on behalf of IFI, an organization with a history of making derogatory and untruthful statements about lesbian and gay people. Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois have opposed IFI's efforts to intervene.
WHO: Emily Nicklin, of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, on behalf of Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois.
WHAT: Oral Arguments in Darby v. Orr
WHERE: Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division 50 West Washington Street, Room 2301
WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM
***Plaintiffs will be at the hearing***
Camilla Taylor, National Marriage Project Director and Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney in LambdaLegal's Midwest Regional Office are handling the case Darby v. Orr for Lambda Legal. John Knight, Harvey Grossman and Karen Sheley are handling the case Lazaro v. Orr for the ACLU of Illinois. They are joined by Emily Nicklin, Jordan M. Heinz and Amy Crawford of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago.