United States v. Windsor

United States v. Windsor
Name	United States v. Windsor
Fullname	United States v. Windsor
Decided	June 26, 2013
Docket	11-844
Source	570 U.S. 744
Source2	133 S. Ct. 2675
Source3	186 L. Ed. 2d 270
Prior	U.S. Dist. Ct. S.D.N.Y.: 893 F. Supp. 2d 497 2d Cir.: 699 F.3d 169
Holding	Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional.
Argued	April 19, 2013
Decidedby	SCOTUS
Chiefjustice	John G. Roberts Jr.
Associatejustice	Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan
Dissenting	John G. Roberts Jr., Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito, Antonin Scalia
Keywords	Same-sex marriage, Defense of Marriage Act, Due Process Clause, Equal Protection Clause

United States v. Windsor was a landmark Supreme Court case that struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law that had defined marriage as between a man and a woman. The court's decision, delivered on June 26, 2013, had significant implications for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States, particularly with regard to same-sex marriage and federal benefits. The case involved Edna Windsor, a New York resident who had married her Canadian spouse, Thea Spyer, in Canada.

Background

The case began in 2010, when Windsor sought to file a joint tax return with her spouse, Spyer, but was denied by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) due to DOMA's definition of marriage. Windsor paid the taxes owed and filed a refund claim with the IRS, which was also denied. She then filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Treasury and the IRS in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, arguing that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional.

The district court ruled in favor of Windsor, holding that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's decision, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari to review the case.

Supreme Court decision

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, held that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional. The majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, found that the law deprived same-sex couples of the equal protection of the laws, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The court also noted that DOMA's definition of marriage was not based on a legitimate government interest, but rather on a animus towards same-sex couples.

The dissenting opinions, written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Justice Clarence Thomas, and Justice Samuel A. Alito, argued that the court had overstepped its authority and that the decision should be left to the legislative branch.

Impact and legacy

The decision in United States v. Windsor had significant implications for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States. The ruling paved the way for the recognition of same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. The decision also ensured that same-sex couples would be eligible for federal benefits, including Social Security and veterans' benefits.

The case also sparked a renewed debate about LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination in the United States. The Human Rights Campaign, a leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group, praised the decision as a major victory for LGBTQ+ equality. The National Organization for Marriage, a group that had intervened in the case to defend DOMA, expressed disappointment with the decision.

Public and political reaction

The decision in United States v. Windsor was widely covered in the media and sparked a range of reactions from the public and politicians. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden issued a joint statement praising the decision and calling it a "victory for American families." Congressional Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, expressed disappointment with the decision and vowed to continue defending DOMA.

The case also sparked a renewed debate about LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination in the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups praised the decision as a major victory for LGBTQ+ equality. The decision also sparked a range of reactions from religious leaders, with some praising the decision and others expressing disappointment.

Category:United States Supreme Court cases