Department Of Justice Files "Friend Of The Court" Brief At SCOTUS In Support Of Marriage Equality

Just hours ago I reported on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's op-ed which promised an amicus brief at SCOTUS in support of the upcoming marriage equality cases on April 28th from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

And, like magic, here it is.

In the 46 page filing, the DOJ urges the high court to rule in favor of same-sex marriage because, “there is no adequate justification for such a discriminatory and injurious exercise of state power.”

From the brief:

“The marriage bans challenged in these cases impermissibly exclude lesbian and gay couples from the rights, responsibilities, and status of civil marriage. These facially discriminatory laws impose concrete harms on same-sex couples and send the inescapable message that same-sex couples and their children are second-class families, unworthy of the recognition and benefits that opposite-sex couples take for granted. The bans cannot be reconciled with the fundamental constitutional guarantee of ‘equal protection of the laws.’”

I have to wonder with all the amicus briefs in our favor (and I know there are others filed against us), do they really resonate with the U.S. Supreme Court?

Hundreds of major corporations and hundreds of high-profile Republicans, the U.S. government itself - does it hold any sway with the nine judges on the high court? The fact that over 70% of Americans now live in states with marriage equality - does it weigh in on the outcome?

I'm hoping so.

Read the entire filing below.

DOJ Amicus Brief On Gay Marriage by Ryan J. Reilly