NiniaBaehrandGenoraDanceletal.v.JohnLewin

HawaiiSupremeCourt,1993In1991,theplaintiffcouples‐NiniaBaehrandGenoraDancel;TammyRodriguezandAntoinettePregil;PatLagonandJosephMelilio‐KiledalawsuitfordeclaratoryjudgmentthatHawaii’sMarriageLawunconstitutionallydeniedsame‐sexcouplesthesamerightstomarriageasdifferent‐sexcouples.DoesHawaii’sMarriageLaw,HawaiiRevisedStatutes572‐1,violatetheprivacyandequalprotectionclausesoftheHawaiiConstitution?Presumedunconstitutional‐remandedtocircuitcourt

J.Levinson,joinedbyC.J.Moon

Precedent&Framer’sIntent

Lovingv.Virginia

“‘Thefreedomtomarryhaslongbeenrecognizedasoneofthevitalpersonalrightsessentialtotheorderlypursuitofhappinessbyfree[people.]’So‘fundamental’doestheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtconsidertheinstitutionofmarriagethatithasdeemedmarriagetobe‘oneofthe‘basiccivilrightsof[menandwomen].’’”(305)

Textual

StrictScrutiny,State’sInterest

EqualProtectionClause(ofthestate)

TheHawaiiMarriageLaw,andLewinactingaccordingly,discrimatedagainsttheplaintiffcouplesbecauseoftheir“‘sex,’oneoftheclassiKicationsinthestateequalprotectionclausethattriggers‘strict’or(attheveryleast)‘intermediate’scrutiny.”TheHawaiiMarriageLawis,thus,presumedunconstitutionalunlessLewincanshowthat(a)thesex‐basedclassiKicationofthestatuteisjustiKiedby“compellingstateinterests”and(b)thestatuteis“narrowlydrawntoavoidunnecessaryabridgementsoftheapplicantcouples’constitutionalrights.”(306)

Textual

EqualProtectionClause

“Onitsfaceandasapplied,[theLaw]deniessame‐sexcouplesaccesstothemaritalstatusanditsconcomitantrightsandbeneKits.”(306)

QuestionofFact

Hormonalandgeneticbasisforhomosexualorientation

“Ifheterosexuality,homosexuality,bisexuality,andasexualityare‘biologicallyfated’thentheword‘sex’alsoincludesthesedifferences.”

SarahD

FactsQuestion(s) Answer(s)Reasons

