D.C. Superior Court rules (again) against opponents of marriage equality; appeal planned

Order granting D.C.'s motion for summary judgment and denying petitioners' motion for summary judgment, filed 01/14/10 in Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, No. 0008613-09 (D.C. Super. Ct., filed 11/18/2009)

D.C resident Bishop Harry Jackson and other plaintiffs have failed in their second attempt to require qualification of a ballot measure against marriage equality. The judge in this case ruled that the D.C. Charter does not bar D.C.'s rejection of initiatives that violate the Human Rights Act, and that the initiative violates the Act :

If enacted, the initiative [to ban same-sex marriage] would deprive only same-sex individuals of the legal status, rights, and privileges they enjoy as married persons ... The [D.C. Elections and Ethics] Board properly rejected the proposed initiative on this ground.

The Washington Post reports on the ruling here. (Thanks to a reader of this site for alerting me to the Washington Post article!)

01/14/10 ADF press release:

On behalf of Pastor Harry Jackson and other voters, Alliance Defense Fund and Stand4MarriageDC attorneys will appeal a court decision issued Thursday that allows the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics to deprive D.C. voters the right to decide the definition of marriage in the district.