Marriage Appeal Goes to Washington Supreme Court

March 2, 2005

OLYMPIA, WA — The Supreme Court of Washington next week will become the second state high court to take up the issue of same-sex marriage.

The court will hear oral arguments in a case seeking marriage equality for same-sex couples on Tuesday.

In a historic ruling last August, King County Superior Court Judge William Downing said that the Washington State Constitution guarantees basic rights to lesbian and gay people — and that those rights are violated by a state law prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying.

The case involved eight same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in King County.

Downing's ruling went on to say that the couples must be given marriage licenses.

One month later, a court in Thurston County ruled similarly. Both decisions were appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court.

The case is the first of its kind to be heard in a state supreme court since the Massachusetts high court ruled that same-sex couples are entitled to full marriage under that state's Constitution.

Similar cases are scheduled to be heard in the highest courts in New York and New Jersey later this year. Another case is working its way to the California Supreme Court.

The eight same-sex couples for marriage rights in Washington are represented by Lambda Legal and the Northwest Women's Law Center.