Plaintiff in Landmark Sodomy Case Leads Defense of Marriage Panel Discussion April 29

“DOMA, Federalism and the Current State of Marriage Equality”

The Obama Administration has announced its position that section three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional; therefore, the Administration will no longer defend the law in court, though they will continue to enforce it as written.  Three individuals who are uniquely positioned to examine the law's development - from DOMA's enactment in 1996 to the Obama Administration's decision in 2011 - will take part in the panel discussion "DOMA, Federalism and the Current State of Marriage Equality" at noon on Friday, April 29, at the UH Law Center, room 209 BLB.

John Lawrence, the Houston-area plaintiff in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that effectively overturned the nation's sodomy laws, will speak along with his attorneys. Lawrence challenged the Texas sodomy law under the equal rights and due process protections of the Fourteenth Amendment following his 1998 arrest. He won with a 6-3 decision. Joining Lawrence in the discussion are his local counsel in the case, Mitchell Katine and John Nechman, partners in the firm of Katine & Nechman.

The three will discuss the status of DOMA and the implications of the the Obama Administration's recent decision not to defend the law in court. The panel will discuss the future of same-sex marriage as well as civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

The forum is sponsored by OutLaw: Students for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Concerns.

Who: 

John Lawrence and his local counsel, Mitchell Katine and John Nechman.

What: 

Panel discussion: "DOMA, Federalism, and the Current State of Marriage Equality"

When: 

Friday, April 29, Noon.

Where: 

University of Houston Law Center, Room 209 BLB

Sponsor: 

OutLaw: Students for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Concerns

For more information: Contact Carrie Criado, 713-743-2184, cacriado@central.uh.edu; or John T. Kling, 713-743-8298, jtkling@central.uh.edu.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a comprehensive national research institution serving the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships.  UH serves more than 38,500 students in the nation's fourth-largest city, located in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region of the country. 

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center is the leading law school in the nation's fifth-largest legal market. Founded in 1947, it is a top-tier institution awarding Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees. The Law Center is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association of Law Schools.

For more information about UH visit the university's Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom 


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