Baker v. Vermont

(Amicus) Groundbreaking case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Vermont

  • Status: Closed
  • Attorneys
    • Co-counsel/Cooperating Attorneys: Beth Robinson and Susan Murray, of Vermont’s Langrock, Sperry & Wool, and Mary Bonauto of New England’s Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.

Summary

In July 2000, Vermont’s groundbreaking law establishing civil unions took effect, providing families of same-sex couples the same protections, benefits and responsibilities that married couples have under state law except for the powerful meaning conveyed by the word marriage. The civil unions law — the first of its kind in the nation — was passed in response to a Vermont Supreme Court ruling ordering state legislators to find a way to provide equal treatment for same-sex couples. The Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights and the People For the American Way Foundation joined Lambda Legal in a friend-of-the-court brief before the Vermont Supreme CourtState Supreme Court  The highest state court in the state court system (more keywords), written by Evan Wolfson, cooperating attorneys Elizabeth Foster and Lawson Vicario of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and local counsel Richard Cassidy.

Lambda Legal's Impact

This case marks the first time a high courtHigh court  A state’s highest court (usually the state supreme court), or in the federal system, the United States Supreme Court (more keywords) in a marriage case ordered a state legislatureLegislature The federal or state branch of government responsible for enacting laws (more keywords) to give same-sex couples the same rights, protections, benefits and obligations that different-sex couples get through marriage. Although the benefits that flow from the word marriage were left out, the case marked a critical landmark on the road to marriage equality.

History

  • December 1999 Vermont Supreme Court ordersOrder  A command, direction or instruction by a court or judge (more keywords) state legislature to extend to same-sex couples the same rights, protections, benefits and obligations available to different-sex couples couples through marriage.
  • April 2000 Vermont legislature passes landmark civil unions measure, making Vermont the first state in the nation to extend to same-sex couples a status parallel to marriage.
  • July 2000 Historic new law takes effect.