Georgia Supreme Court to Hear Oral Argument on Marriage Amendment Case

Atlanta, Georgia – Today, the Georgia Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the O’Kelley v. Purdue case in which same-sex marriage advocates are challenging Georgia’s marriage amendment. Liberty Counsel filed a motion to intervene on behalf of the Christian Coalition of Georgia to defend the marriage amendment. In January 2005, Liberty Counsel also filed an amicus brief with the Court.

In a lower court ruling, Judge Constance Russell, on May 16, 2006, ruled that the amendment violated the single-subject rule because it required an all-or-nothing vote on both a ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions. Liberty Counsel filed another brief before the Georgia Supreme Court arguing that the amendment addresses the single subject of marriage.

Georgia voters passed the amendment in the November 2004 elections by a margin of 77%.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, stated: “When the people of Georgia went to the polls, they spoke loud and clear in favor of marriage as one man and one woman. When groups pushing the homosexual agenda fail to win at the ballot box, they try to undermine democracy by using the courts to eliminate the voice of the people. Aggressive use of the courts to undermine marriage has backfired on the same-sex marriage movement. These recent efforts to challenge constitutional amendments will also backfire. The people of America are not about to idly stand by and watch marriage go up in smoke. Natural marriage between one man and one woman is best for our families, our children, and our communities.”