Varnum vs. Brien

In December, 2005, six Iowa couples represented by Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit in Polk County District Court seeking the freedom to marry in Iowa. In addition, hundreds of Iowans including faith leaders, lawmakers, and social science experts, filed an additional fifteen amicus briefs in support of the freedom to marry on behalf of the couples.

On August 30, 2007 an Iowa District Court judge ruled that denying gay couples marriage was unconstitutional. Twenty-four hours later, the judge issued a stay on his order; but in that time, 19 couples applied for marriage licenses and one couple actually got married, remaining Iowas only legally married gay couple.

On Friday, April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from marrying is unconstitutional. Read the decision.

Here is a complete listing of the amicus briefs filed on behalf of the plaintiffs:

    • Matrimonial lawyers, the Middleton Center for Children’s Rights, and pediatricians and family physicians Iowa Supreme Court Amicus Brief
      Varnum v. Brien (Amicus Brief)
      View/print the PDF file of this brief