Boston Bar President J.D. Smeallie Issues Statement on Supreme Court Rulings Re: Marriage Equality

Following rulings in United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry, Boston Bar Association President J.D. Smeallie issued the following statement:

“Today the Supreme Court of the United States has delivered a historic victory for marriage equality by ruling that the federal Defense of Marriage Act violates the United States Constitution. We are pleased that the court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor affirms that same sex married couples living in states recognizing marriage equality are entitled to receive the same federal benefits as any other married couple.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Hollingsworth v. Perry will have the practical impact of permitting same sex couples in the state of California to resume getting married. But there’s obviously more work to be done before every state in the Union recognizes marriage equality.”

Underscoring its support for marriage equality, the BBA last March joined a coalition of bar associations and civil and human rights groups, and public interest and legal services organizations in signing onto amicus briefs in United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry.

The BBA’s support for marriage equality dates back to 2002 when it independently filed an amicus brief in Goodridge, the Massachusetts case which resulted in the MA Supreme Judicial Court overturning the prohibition against same sex marriage in the Bay State.