SAN FRANCISCO — Alliance Defense Fund and ProtectMarriage attorneys filed their response with the California Supreme Court Monday to a lawsuit designed to remove the state’s marriage amendment from the November ballot. On June 20, Equality California filed suit against the constitutional amendment, which has already qualified for inclusion in the Nov. 4 election.
“Equality California and its allies are desperate to evade the democratic process. First, they used the courts to erase the votes of nearly 5 million Californians who voted to protect marriage. Now, they are trying to silence the people’s voice forever,” said ADF Senior Counsel Glen Lavy. “The opponents of marriage are willing to use any means necessary to impose their will.”
ADF attorneys and ProtectMarriage attorney Andrew Pugno represent initiative proponents defending the right of California voters to have a say on marriage (
www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4571).
A copy of the preliminary opposition requested by the California Supreme Court in
Bennett v. Bowen is available at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/BowenPrelimOpp.pdf.
The California Secretary of State certified the citizen initiative for the November ballot on June 3. If approved by voters, Proposition 8, the California Marriage Protection Act, would add the following words to California’s constitution: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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