Eric Holder appoints Benjamin Mizer as interim head of Civil Division at Justice Dept.

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that he has named Benjamin C. Mizer as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. Mizer replaces Joyce R. Branda, who will return to her permanent role as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Commercial Litigation Branch.  Mizer and…

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Attorney General Holder announces federal government to recognize same-sex married couples in six additional states

WASHINGTON—In the latest development following the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this month to decline to hear any pending cases regarding same-sex marriage, Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that the federal government will now recognize same-sex married couples in six new states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming. Last week, the attorney…

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HRC, Freedom to Marry ask AG Holder to ensure federal respect for marriages in three more states

WASHINGTON – Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Freedom to Marry, on behalf of the Respect for Marriage Coalition, sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking that the Department of Justice act to ensure federal respect for the marriages of same-sex couples in Arkansas, Indiana, and Wisconsin, consistent with the approach taken…

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Attorney General Eric Holder slams Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Scout leaders

WASHINGTON – Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Holder  harshly condemned a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) policy that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving as Scout Leaders.  While the group’s National Council recently voted to end a longstanding ban on gay youth in Scouting, it left in place a policy that bars gay and lesbian adults,…

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U.S. government will recognize marriages of same-sex couples who wed in Michigan

WASHINGTON— The federal government will  recognize same-sex marriages performed in the state of Michigan. Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the status of those marriages: “I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government.  These families will be eligible for all…

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Attorney General Eric Holder: ‘For purposes of federal law Utah same-sex marriages will be recognized as lawful’

WASHINGTON— Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the status of same-sex marriages performed in the state of Utah: “Last June, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision – in United States v. Windsor – holding that Americans in same-sex marriages are entitled to equal protection and equal treatment under the law. …

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