Bostic v. Schaefer (Harris Class Action) - Freedom to Marry in Virginia
What's at Stake
In Bostic v. Schaefer, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Virginia, Lambda Legal, and Jenner & Block, LLP, represent a class of all unmarried same-sex couples in Virginia and all same-sex couples in Virginia who have already married in a different jurisdiction (the "Harris Class"). The class action was originally filed as separate litigation in the Western District of Virginia filed on behalf of Joanne Harris and Jessica Duff and Christy Berghoff and Victoria Kidd as class representatives for all same-sex couples in Virginia who wish to marry here or who have married in other jurisdictions. After a court in the Eastern District of Virginia struck down Virginia's marriage bans in Bostic, the Harris Class intervened as a party at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to have its constitutional challenges decided as part of the Bostic litigation.
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Summary
The Harris Class representatives are of Joanne Harris and Jessica Duff from Staunton and Christy Berghoff and Victoria Kidd from Winchester. Joanne and Jessica have been together since 2006, and have a four-year-old son, Jabari. Christy and Victoria have been together almost ten years. They have a baby daughter, Lydia. Their class-class action lawsuit alleges that through the Commonwealth's constitutional and statutory marriage bans and through Defendants' enforcement of them, the Commonwealth and Defendants send a purposeful message that they view lesbians, gay men, and their children as second-class citizens who are undeserving of the legal sanction, respect, protections, and support that heterosexuals and their families are able to enjoy through marriage.
Virginia couples who have suffered from discrimination and are interested in sharing how marriage discrimination harms their families as part of a campaign for the freedom to marry are encouraged to join the hundreds of other Virginian couples who have filled out a survey at http://action.aclu.org/couples.
Supreme Court Filings in Bostic
Fourth Circuit Briefs by Harris Class
Fourth Circuit Briefs by Other Parties
Fourth Circuit Amicus Briefs in Support of Bostic and Harris Class
Fourth Circuit Amicus Briefs in Support of Schaefer and McQuigg
Legal Documents
Press Releases
ACLU and Lambda Legal Ask Supreme Court to Reject Motion to Delay Virginia Marriages
Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments against Virginia Marriage Ban
Virginia Court Legalizes Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
Virginia Marriage Case Given Class-Action Status
Virginia Attorney General Finds State Marriage Ban Unconstitutional
ACLU and Lambda Legal Ask Court for Swift Ruling in Virginia Marriage Case