Recognition of Same-sex Unions in Nevada - Lawsuit

Lawsuit

On April 10, 2012, Lambda Legal filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. In the case of Sevcik v. Sandoval, it argued that "No legitimate ... interest exists to exclude same-sex couples from the historic and highly venerated institution of marriage, especially where the State already grants lesbians and gay men access to almost all substantive spousal rights and responsibilities through registered domestic partnership." The cases raises equal protect claims but does not assert a fundamental right to marry. On November 29, Judge Robert C. Jones ruled against the plaintiffs, holding that "the maintenance of the traditional institution of civil marriage as between one man and one woman is a legitimate state interest". The decision has been appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which will consider it in conjunction with a similar Hawaii case, Jackson v. Abercrombie.