Hollingsworth v. Perry

Hollingsworth v. Perry
Name	Hollingsworth v. Perry
Full name	Hollingsworth v. Perry
Citation	570 U.S. 261 (2013)
Decided	June 26, 2013
Docket	12-144

Hollingsworth v. Perry was a landmark United States Supreme Court decision that allowed a California court ruling to stand, which had previously overturned Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in the state. The case involved a challenge to Proposition 8, which was passed in 2008, and had sparked widespread protests and litigation. The Supreme Court's decision had significant implications for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States.

Background and legal context

The case began in 2008, when California voters passed Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage in the state. The proposition was challenged in court by a group of same-sex couples, including Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, who argued that it was unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The case was brought against Kamala Harris, the California Attorney General, and John Perez, the California Assembly Speaker, among others.

The California Supreme Court initially ruled that Proposition 8 was constitutional, but this decision was later overturned by a federal district court, which found that the proposition did indeed violate the Fourteenth Amendment. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision, and the case was eventually appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Lower court proceedings

In 2010, Judge Vaughn Walker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, finding that it discriminated against same-sex couples and denied them their right to marry. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision in 2012, finding that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Supreme Court decision

On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued a per curiam decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry, holding that the petitioners, who were the proponents of Proposition 8, lacked standing to appeal the district court's decision. The Court found that, under Article III of the United States Constitution, the petitioners did not have a personal stake in the outcome of the case, and therefore did not have the right to appeal.

Majority and dissenting opinions

The Supreme Court's decision was issued per curiam, meaning that it was not attributed to any one justice. However, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, arguing that the Court should have reached the merits of the case and decided whether Proposition 8 was constitutional. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also wrote a concurring opinion, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, emphasizing the importance of the district court's decision and the Ninth Circuit's affirmance.

Immediate impact and reactions

The Supreme Court's decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry had an immediate impact on the LGBTQ+ rights movement in California and across the United States. The decision allowed the district court's ruling to stand, which meant that same-sex couples in California were once again allowed to marry. The decision was celebrated by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Long-term legal and social significance

The Supreme Court's decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry has had significant long-term implications for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. The decision marked an important milestone in the struggle for same-sex marriage and paved the way for the United States Supreme Court's later decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires all states to recognize same-sex marriages. The decision also highlighted the importance of standing and justiciability in constitutional law, and has been cited in numerous academic and judicial contexts. American Civil Liberties Union, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Center for American Progress have all noted the decision's far-reaching impact.