The California Marriage case was argued on behalf of 14 same-sex couples and two organizations, Equality California and Our Family Coalition. The couples were represented by the ACLU with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, Heller Ehrman LLP, and the Law Office of David C. Codell, along with the City of San Francisco in a companion case. The cases, along with four others, were consolidated into one appeal, In re Marriage Cases.

Status: VICTORY! On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on marriage for same-sex couples.

> Click here to watch the arguments online.

Resources
> About the Plaintiffs
> Amicus Briefs Filed by Organizations and Individuals in Support of Marriage Equality

Additional Information
> ACLU of Northern California
> Lambda Legal
> National Center for Lesbian Rights

Legal Documents
> In re Marriage Cases - Decision, California Supreme Court (5/15/2008)
> In re Marriage Cases - Respondents' Consolidated Reply Brief on the Merits (8/17/2007)
> In re Marriage Cases - Respondents' Supplemental Brief (8/17/2007)
> In re Marriage Cases - Respondents’ Opening Brief on the Merits (4/2/2007)
> In re Marriage Cases - Decision in California First Appellate Court, Divison Three (10/5/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of the California NAACP (1/12/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of Religious Organizations and Religiously Affiliated Individuals (1/9/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of Additional California and National LGBT Organizations (1/9/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of Asian Pacific Islander Groups (1/9/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of California, Massachusetts and National LGBT Organizations (1/9/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of Civil Rights Organizations (1/9/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of International Human Rights Organizations and Law Professors (1/6/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Friend-of-the-Court Brief Filed on Behalf of Women's Rights Organizations (1/6/2006)
> In re Marriage Cases - Respondents' Answering Brief in California First Appellate Court, Division Three (11/10/2005)
> In re Marriage Cases - Superior Court Decision (3/14/2005)
> In re Marriage Cases - Complaint (3/12/2004)

Press
> Same-sex Couples Ask California Supreme Court to Strike Down Marriage Ban (3/4/2008)
> Marriage Lawsuit Advances to California Supreme Court (8/17/2007)
> Same-Sex Couples Urge California Supreme Court to Strike Down Marriage Ban (4/2/2007)
> California Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Appeal in Lawsuits Seeking Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (12/20/2006)
> Same-Sex Couples Appeal to California Supreme Court in Marriage Case (11/13/2006)
> Divided California Court of Appeal Rejects Challenge to Discriminatory Marriage Law (10/5/2006)
> ACLU Urges California Court to Strike Down Law Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marriage (7/10/2006)
> Religious and Civil Rights Groups Support Same-Sex Couples in Legal Battle to Marry (1/10/2006)
> ACLU, NCLR, and Lambda Legal Urge California Appeals Court to Affirm Decision Ending Unfairness Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage (11/9/2005)
> ACLU Applauds California Judge's Decision Ending Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage (3/14/2005)
> ACLU Urges California Trial Court to End Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples in Marriage (12/22/2004)
> California Supreme Court Invalidates Marriages from San Francisco, Without Resolving Whether Same-Sex Couples Have the Right to Marry (8/12/2004)
> Couples Challenge Marriage Discrimination in California (3/12/2004)
> ACLU and Gay Rights Groups Praise Court's Decision to Permit San Francisco to Continue Granting Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples (2/18/2004)
> Lesbian and Gay Couples in San Francisco Are Granted Marriage Licenses (2/12/2004)

Additional Resources
> In re Marriage Cases - Amicus Briefs Filed by Organizations and Individuals in Support of Marriage Equality (1/10/2006)