Owens Offers Minority Opinions in DOMA case

Anderson v. King County Majority Opinion

In 2006,eight Washington lesbian and gay couple sued the state of Washington for denying them marriage licenses under the states 1998 Defense of Marriage Acr (DOMA).  The majority ruled that the DOMA did not violate the state’s constitution.  The judges believed that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples was essential to the survival of the human race and furthers the well-being of children by encouraging families where children are raised by children’s biological parents.

The Dissenting Opinion

The four dissented judges including Susan Owens voiced the opinion that giving same-sex couples the same right that opposite-sex couples enjoy would not injure the state’s interest in procreation and healthy child rearing.

Learn more about this case at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_v._King_County