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Breaking! Court Dismisses Suit Against Domestic Partnership Law

In what is likely to be the final chapter of a court case that caused a brief but dramatic delay in the implementation of Oregon’s domestic partnership law, a federal appeals court today dismissed a lawsuit pursued by out-of-state groups seeking to revive a failed 2007 referendum on the law.

“This decision is a victory for commitment. It is a victory for love,” said Jeana Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon. “Most Oregonians agree that committed couples should have the legal recognition they need to take care of each other. And now two courts have rejected our opponents’ demands for special treatment.”

The case stemmed from a failed 2007 referendum campaign against Oregon’s domestic partnership law. Last year, opponents of domestic partnerships were unable to collect enough valid signatures to put a measure overturning the law on the ballot. But out-of-state groups behind the effort filed suit in Federal court, complaining that Oregon elections officials should have changed the rules to reconsider previously rejected signatures.

“The judges clearly understood the issues at stake in this case when they rejected the plaintiffs’ demand for special treatment,” said Basic Rights Oregon attorney Margaret Olney, who assisted the State’s attorneys in the defense. “The out-of-state groups behind this lawsuit failed to meet the minimum standards of public support for their unpopular agenda last year. The Court is saying unequivocally: you can’t change the rules just because you don’t like the outcome.”

About 2,200 couples have registered for domestic partnerships in Oregon since the law took effect. While domestic partnerships fall short of full marriage rights, they do provide important protections like hospital visitation rights, the right to make medical decisions for an ailing partner, and the ability to resolve property and inheritance issues.

For more information, including court documents, see http://www.basicrights.org/?p=126