Washington Supreme
Court Rules
Defense of Marriage
Act Does Not
Violate State
Constitution
From court.wa.gov/newsinfo
on the Web, July 26, 2006
Olympia, -- This morning, the
Washington Supreme Court issued a decision in Andersen v. King County, a
consolidated case regarding Washington’s Defense of Marriage Act.
The Court’s lead opinion was authored by Justice Barbara Madsen, holding the
Washington Defense of Marriage Act does not violate the Washington State
Constitution. This decision overturns trial court decisions in King and
Thurston Superior Courts in this case.
Signing Justice Madsen’s opinion are Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and Associate
Chief Justice Charles W. Johnson. Two members of the Court, Justices James
M. Johnson and Richard B. Sanders agreed with the majority in result only, using
a separate legal rationale in a concurring opinion authored by Justice James M.
Johnson. Chief Justice Gerry Alexander also issued a separate concurrence
in this case.
The Court had three dissenting opinions, one authored by Justice Mary E.
Fairhurst which was signed by Justices Bobbe J. Bridge, Tom Chambers and Susan
J. Owens. Justices Bridge and Chambers also issued separate dissents in
this case.
The Court’s opinion including concurrences and dissents is available online at
www.courts.wa.gov, along
with links to the RealAudio of the oral argument.
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