U.S. District Judge Michael McShane has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in two consolidated marriage cases challenging Oregon’s ban on marriage equality, known as Measure 36. Judge McShane’s is the latest in a string of rulings striking down state laws or constitutional amendments that ban marriage for same-sex couples.
The cases were both filed in late 2013 in District Court for the District of Oregon. Geiger v. Kitzhaber was filed by Lake James Perriguey of Law Works LLC and Lea Ann Easton of Dorsay & Easton LLP on behalf of two couples, one seeking to marry in Oregon and the other legally wed in Canada seeking for their marriage to be recognized by the state. Rummell v. Kitzhaber was filed by attorneys with Perkins Coie LLP, the ACLU of Oregon, and the ACLU on behalf of three couples, two of which are seeking to marry in Oregon. The third couple was married in Oregon in 2004, but the Oregon Supreme Court and Measure 36 invalidated their marriage a short time later. In January 2014, the cases were consolidated.
The order will take effect immediately, meaning marriage licenses will be available today.
