Jim Obergefell

Obergefell, et al. v. Hodges - Freedom to Marry in Ohio

Location: Ohio
Court Type: U.S. Supreme Court
Status: Closed (Judgment)
Last Update: June 26, 2015

What's at Stake

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Ohio and Alphonse Gerhardstein of Gerhardstein & Branch have filed suit on behalf of Jim Obergefell and David Michener, two widowers, and Robert Grunn, a funeral director, in a challenge to the Ohio constitutional and statutory marriage recognition bans.

The case was filed in July 2013, by Al Gerhardstein on behalf of Jim Obergefell and John Arthur seeking recognition of their Maryland marriage on John’s death certificate, before John’s death. The Court granted Jim and John a temporary restraining order and when John died on October 22, 2013, his death certificate listing Jim as his surviving spouse and recognized that he was married at the time of his death.

Status: On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court overturned the 6th Circuit decision, and ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. VICTORY!

View the Amicus Briefs to the Supreme Court for and against the Freedom to Marry

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