Imperial County’s involvement in the gay marriage ban Proposition 8 case continues.
The county’s Clerk-Recorder Chuck Storey has filed to intervene in the case that is now approaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
The amicus brief, jointly filed Monday by law groups Advocates for Faith and Freedom and Thomas More Law Center, explains that the ultimate ruling will affect the duties of the county clerk and is asking the court to essentially ban gay marriage in California.
Storey had previously filed through Advocates for Faith and Freedom to join the lawsuit while it was at the federal court level, but was denied because he had filed too late in the proceedings. His lawyer then indicated the case would likely go before the Supreme Court.
Storey, who serves as the commissioner of civil marriage for the county, was not the first in the Valley to want to join the lawsuit. Imperial County and its deputy clerk had both filed to enter the case in December 2009, citing the high percentage of voters locally who had supported Prop. 8. The local government groups had asked to be a part of the case should the state decide not to defend the proposition, because at the time the governor and attorney general did not appeal the decision.
The local officials were denied entry in the case in August 2010, about the same time federal district court Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled Prop. 8 unconstitutional. The judge cited the fact that the county clerk hadn’t been the one to file, instead it was a deputy clerk.
In early 2011 then-recently-elected Storey decided to enter the fray as the clerk-recorder. He was represented in federal court by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts. Thomas More Law Center also filed with Advocates for Faith and Freedom.
The Thomas More Law Center is self-described as a national nonprofit law firm with a mission to restore and defend America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values. The group has been involved in other cases, including filing against the ACLU in its efforts to take down the Mt. Soledad Cross, challenging the Affordable Care Act and filing in support of Arizona over its immigration law.
Calls to Storey’s attorney at Advocates for Faith and Freedom were not returned by press time.
Digital Media News Editor Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
The county’s Clerk-Recorder Chuck Storey has filed to intervene in the case that is now approaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
Storey had previously filed through Advocates for Faith and Freedom to join the lawsuit while it was at the federal court level, but was denied because he had filed too late in the proceedings. His lawyer then indicated the case would likely go before the Supreme Court.
Storey, who serves as the commissioner of civil marriage for the county, was not the first in the Valley to want to join the lawsuit. Imperial County and its deputy clerk had both filed to enter the case in December 2009, citing the high percentage of voters locally who had supported Prop. 8. The local government groups had asked to be a part of the case should the state decide not to defend the proposition, because at the time the governor and attorney general did not appeal the decision.
The local officials were denied entry in the case in August 2010, about the same time federal district court Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled Prop. 8 unconstitutional. The judge cited the fact that the county clerk hadn’t been the one to file, instead it was a deputy clerk.
In early 2011 then-recently-elected Storey decided to enter the fray as the clerk-recorder. He was represented in federal court by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a nonprofit law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts. Thomas More Law Center also filed with Advocates for Faith and Freedom.
The Thomas More Law Center is self-described as a national nonprofit law firm with a mission to restore and defend America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values. The group has been involved in other cases, including filing against the ACLU in its efforts to take down the Mt. Soledad Cross, challenging the Affordable Care Act and filing in support of Arizona over its immigration law.
Calls to Storey’s attorney at Advocates for Faith and Freedom were not returned by press time.
Digital Media News Editor Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
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