Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Case Profile 
Plaintiffs in the marriage challenge
gather outside the Maryland Court.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in Baltimore with the cooperation of Equality Maryland, charging that a state law denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the Maryland Constitution. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of nine same-sex couples and a man whose partner recently passed away and would like to be able to marry a same-sex partner one day. The couples come from all walks of life--a former civil rights worker, a bus driver, a paramedic, a teacher, a dentist and a former police officer. Some of the couples have been together for decades, and some are raising children.
Status: Loss. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled against our plaintiffs on September 18, 2007.
About the PlaintiffsQuestions & Answers about the Case
9/18/2007 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
ACLU and Equality Maryland Denounce 4 to 3 Decision by Maryland High Court Denying Marriage Protections for Same-Sex Couples
9/18/2007 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Decision, Maryland Court of Appeals
12/4/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
ACLU and Equality Maryland Urge Maryland High Court to Strike Down Law Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marriage
11/30/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Maryland Psychologists, Social Workers, and Child Welfare Advocates Speak Out in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of State and National Religious Organizations and Leaders in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Maryland Chapter of the AAML Describing Harms to Families of Same-Sex Couples on Account of Exclusion from Marriage
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and Other Mental Health Organizations in Support of Equal Treatment for Same-Sex Couples and Their Children
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of 58 Maryland Law Professors Analyzing Maryland Constitutional Law in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund on the Relevance of Interracial Marriage to Same-Sex Marriage
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Organizations Representing Constituencies Subject to Rational Basis Review Discussing the Proper Application of the Standard
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Historians and State and National Civil Rights Organizations Explaining the History and Evolution of Marriage
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the Maryland Chapters of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Academy of Pediatrics Confirming that Lesbians and Gay Men are Capable Parents
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of State and National LGBT Organizations Describing the History of Discrimination Against Lesbians, Gay Men and their Families
1/20/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Maryland Court Says State Cannot Bar Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections
8/30/2005 | HIV / AIDS, LGBT Rights
ACLU Urges Maryland Court to Strike Down Law Barring Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections
8/29/2005 | HIV / AIDS, LGBT Rights
Maryland Religious Leaders Join Together to Support Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
7/13/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Plaintiffs' Opposition to State's Motion for Summary Judgment
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment Appendix
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment Exhibits
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Religion Friend-of-the-Court Brief
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Child Welfare Friend-of-the-Court Brief
9/18/2007 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
ACLU and Equality Maryland Denounce 4 to 3 Decision by Maryland High Court Denying Marriage Protections for Same-Sex Couples
12/4/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
ACLU and Equality Maryland Urge Maryland High Court to Strike Down Law Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marriage
11/30/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Maryland Psychologists, Social Workers, and Child Welfare Advocates Speak Out in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
1/20/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Maryland Court Says State Cannot Bar Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections
8/30/2005 | HIV / AIDS, LGBT Rights
ACLU Urges Maryland Court to Strike Down Law Barring Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections
9/18/2007 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Decision, Maryland Court of Appeals
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of State and National Religious Organizations and Leaders in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Maryland Chapter of the AAML Describing Harms to Families of Same-Sex Couples on Account of Exclusion from Marriage
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and Other Mental Health Organizations in Support of Equal Treatment for Same-Sex Couples and Their Children
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of 58 Maryland Law Professors Analyzing Maryland Constitutional Law in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund on the Relevance of Interracial Marriage to Same-Sex Marriage
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Organizations Representing Constituencies Subject to Rational Basis Review Discussing the Proper Application of the Standard
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Historians and State and National Civil Rights Organizations Explaining the History and Evolution of Marriage
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the Maryland Chapters of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Academy of Pediatrics Confirming that Lesbians and Gay Men are Capable Parents
10/19/2006 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of State and National LGBT Organizations Describing the History of Discrimination Against Lesbians, Gay Men and their Families
7/13/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Plaintiffs' Opposition to State's Motion for Summary Judgment
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment Appendix
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment Exhibits
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Religion Friend-of-the-Court Brief
6/17/2005 | HIV / AIDS, Relationships
Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Child Welfare Friend-of-the-Court Brief
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