Case Digest on Obergefell v. Hodges

Denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

This is the doctrine established in the U.S. landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015. Check out this two-minute case digest by Audio Law Reader.🎧📚

FACTS OF THE CASE:

This case is composed of consolidated lawsuits from various states where same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses in lieu of state laws that defined marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman, evidently excluding same-sex couples from the institution of marriage.

The plaintiffs sought to challenge these state laws, contending that said laws violate the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by discriminating against same-sex couples and infringing upon their fundamental right to marry.

ISSUE OF THE CASE:

1. Whether the Constitution of the United States guarantees a right to same-sex marriage; and
2. Whether states are constitutionally required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize their marriages from other states

RULING OF THE CASE:

1. Yes, the Constitution of the United States guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. The Court recognized that marriage is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person and is essential for equal protection and due process under the law. The Court emphasized that same-sex couples should have the same legal rights and benefits associated with marriage that opposite-sex couples have. State laws and constitutional amendments that banned same-sex marriage were thus ruled unconstitutional.
2. Yes, states are constitutionally required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize their marriages from other states.

IMPACT TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM:

This case was a landmark victory for LGBTQ+ rights. It affirmed the principle that LGBTQ+ individuals are entitled to the same legal rights and protections as everyone else, significantly advancing the broader movement for LGBTQ+ equality, and provided a strong foundation for challenging discriminatory laws and practices based on sexual orientation, reinforcing the notion that discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals is unconstitutional.

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