Scribd

No. 11-0024

In the Supreme Court of Texas

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N THE

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ATTER OF THE

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ARRIAGE OF

J.B.

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H.B.On Petition for Review from theFifth Court of Appeals at Dallas, Texas

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RIEF ON THE

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ERITS OF

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ESPONDENTTHE

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TATE OF

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EXAS

GREG ABBOTTAttorney General of TexasDANIEL T. HODGEFirst Assistant Attorney GeneralBILL COBBDeputy Attorney General for CivilLitigationJONATHAN F. MITCHELLSolicitor GeneralJAMES D. BLACKLOCKAssistant Solicitor GeneralState Bar No. 24050296O

FFICE OF THE

A

TTORNEY

G

ENERAL

P.O. Box 12548 (MC 059)Austin, Texas 78711-2548[Tel.] (512) 936-8160[Fax] (512) 474-2697 jimmy.blacklock@oag.state.tx.usC

OUNSEL FOR

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ESPONDENT

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HE

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TATE OF

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EXAS

FILEDIN THE SUPREME COURTOF TEXAS11 September 26 P5:12 BLAKE A HAWTHORNECLERK

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ABLE OF

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ONTENTS

Index of Authorities.....................................................iiiIssues Presented........................................................xiSummary of Argument....................................................3Argument..............................................................4I.Texas Law Bars Divorce Suits Involving Same-Sex Couples, and ThatBar Is Jurisdictional...........................................4A.The Texas Constitution and Family Code Prohibit Same-SexDivorces in Five, Independent Ways; Collectively, TheseProvisions of Texas Law Leave No Doubt that Divorce IsUnavailable to Same-Sex Couples..........................4B.Texas Courts Lack Jurisdiction Over Suits for DivorceInvolving Same-Sex Couples.............................101.The clear intent of section 6.204 of the Family Code isthat courts not exercise jurisdiction over divorce suitsinvolving same-sex couples.........................112.The district court lacked jurisdiction because J.B.’sdivorce petition affirmatively demonstrates a lack of standing........................................16C.A Suit to Declare the Marriage Void Is the Proper LegalMechanism for Dissolving an Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriagein Texas Court........................................191.A judgment in a suit to declare the marriage void wouldbe enforceable in all fifty states......................202.A suit to declare the marriage void provides for propertydivision and other rights...........................23

iiII.Texas’s Traditional Marriage Laws Are Consistent with the U.S.Constitution................................................24A.

Baker v. Nelson

Forecloses Any Claim of a ConstitutionalEntitlement to Same-Sex Divorce.........................25B.Texas’s Provision of the Rights of Marriage—IncludingDivorce—Only to the Union of One Man and One Woman DoesNot Violate the Fourteenth Amendment....................271.Texas’s marriage laws do not violate the EqualProtection Clause.................................272.There is no fundamental right under the Due ProcessClause to a same-sex divorce.......................323.The constitutional right to travel is not implicated here...354.The Full Faith and Credit Clause does not require Texasto grant same-sex divorces.........................38III.In This Appeal of the District Court’s Denial of the State’s Plea to theJurisdiction, All Jurisdictional Arguments Should Be Considered Bythe Court of Appeals and This Court.............................40Prayer................................................................42Certificate of Service....................................................44