Sunday, November 30, 2008

Vaughn-Martel Law Has Moved!

Vaughn-Martel Law has moved its offices to a new address in the heart of Boston's South End neighborhood:

530 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-357-4898 Tel.
617-357-4899 Fax.
866-606-4188 Toll-free
E-mail attyvm@vaughnmartel.com
Web www.vaughnmartel.com

Vaughn-Martel Law was founded as the Law Office of Christopher Vaughn-Martel in 2006, and continues to serve individuals, families, and small businesses throughout Massachusetts.

For contact information, maps, and directions, click HERE.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

California Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Proposition 8 Challenge

On Wednesday, the California Supreme Court agreed to hear three legal challenges to Proposition 8, according to the AP.

Proposition 8, the ballot initiative which amended the California Constitution to limit civil marriage to opposite-sex couples, passed on election day with the support of 52% of California voters amended the California Constitution.

All three cases argue that Proposition 8 violated the fundamental civil rights of a vulnerable minority group.

A copy of the order granting review of petitioners' cases can be viewed here: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/documents/S168047_S168066_S168078-11-19-08_ORDER.pdf

Thursday, November 6, 2008

California Voters Approve Proposition 8: Same-Sex Marriage Rights Revoked

Election Day, November 5, 2008: Proposition 8, which limits marriage in California to heterosexual couples, passed Tuesday with 52 per cent support, only 5 months after the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage last earlier this year.

Since the Supreme Court recognized same-sex marriage in June, it is estimated that more than 18,000 same-sex couples obtained marriage licenses. Although the California Attorney General will recognize those marriages which tool place between June and November, their legal status is far from settled. What is clear is that same-sex couples will no longer be able to obtain a marriage license in the state of California.

Many commentators have suggested that the California Amendment is singularly unique, in that it strips away the fundamental civil rights of a minority group by a vote of the majority electorate.

Three lawsuits have already been filed in the state of California to challenge the Amendment on procedural grounds. Any challenge to the substance of the Amendment is likely to fail before the California Supreme Court, which is bound to interpret the Constitution as written. However, there is a chance that one or more lawsuits on the issue of same-sex marriage rights will make it's way before the United State Supreme Court.

It's likely that same-sex marriages which were granted in California between the months of June and November, when the Amendment was approved, will be recognized in other states that either grant or honor same-sex marriages, like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.