NY Court to Hear Argument Challenging Recognition of Out-of-State Marriages of Gay Couples

New York Court of Appeals to Hear Oral Argument in Cases Challenging Recognition of Out- of-State Marriages of Same-Sex Couples 

(Albany, New York,) —On Tuesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m. the New York Court of Appeals will hear arguments in two cases regarding state and county recognition of out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples. The cases are Lewis v. New York State Department of Civil Serviceand Godfrey v. Spano 
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The cases were brought by the Alliance Defense Fund challenging state and county authority to respect out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples. Lambda Legal intervened in each case representing same-sex couples who depend on recognition of their out-of state marriages for critical protections. Lambda Legal will argue on the couples’ behalf in the Court of Appeals. 

Lambda Legal and the two couples will hold a news conference immediately after oral argument on the steps outside the New York Court of Appeals. 

WHEN:         Oral Argument: 2:00 p.m. 
                Press Conference:  approximately 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2009 

WHERE:         State of New York Court of Appeals 
                Steps of the court building main entrance 
                20 Eagle Street, Albany, New York 

WHO:                Susan Sommer, Lambda Legal Senior Counsel 
                Peri Rainbow and Tamela Sloan 
                Michael Sabatino and Robert Voorheis 

Order of Oral Argument         
                Brian Raum, Senior Legal Counsel, Alliance Defense Fund, for Appellants 
                Sasha Samberg-Champion, Assistant Solicitor General, for Respondent New York State                         Department of Civil Service 
                Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Associate Westchester County Attorney, for Respondent                         Westchester County 
                Susan Sommer, Senior Counsel and Director of Constitutional Litigation, Lambda Legal, for                 Respondent couples 

For background on Godfrey v. Spano visit: http://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/godfrey-v-spano.html 

For background on Lewis v. New York State Department of Civil Service visit: http://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/lewis-v-new-york-state-department-civil-service.html