Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al

Filing 695

Letter from Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. re Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, No. 08-1371 (U.S. June 28, 2010). (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A)(Boutrous, Theodore) (Filed on 6/29/2010)

Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al

Doc. 695

June 29, 2010 The Honorable Vaughn R. Walker Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California 450 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, California 94102 Re: Perry v. Schwarzenegger, Case No. C-09-2292 VRW Dear Chief Judge Walker:

Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. Direct: 213.229.7804 Fax: [phone] [e-mail] Client: T 36330-00001

I write on behalf of Plaintiffs to bring to the Court's attention yesterday's decision in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, No. 08-1371 (U.S. June 28, 2010) (attached hereto as Exhibit A). In Christian Legal Society, the Supreme Court definitively held that sexual orientation is not merely behavioral, but rather, that gay and lesbian individuals are an identifiable class. Writing for the Court, Justice Ginsburg explained: "Our decisions have declined to distinguish between status and conduct in this context." Slip op. at 23 (citing Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558, 575 (2003); id. at 583 (O'Connor, J., concurring in judgment); Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic, 506 U.S. 263, 270 (1993)). This confirms that a majority of the Court now adheres to Justice O'Connor's view in Lawrence, where she concluded that "the conduct targeted by [the Texas anti-sodomy] law is conduct that is closely correlated with being homosexual" and that, "[u]nder such circumstances, [the] law is targeted at more than conduct" and "is instead directed toward gay persons as a class," id. at 583 (O'Connor, J., concurring in judgment) (emphasis added). See also Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996) (treating gay and lesbian individuals as a class for equal protection purposes). The Court's holding arose in response to Christian Legal Society's argument that it was not discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, but rather because gay and lesbian individuals refused to acknowledge that their conduct was morally wrong. The Court rejected that argument, holding that there is no distinction between gay and lesbian individuals and their conduct. In his closing argument, counsel for Proponents claimed that High Tech Gays v. Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office, 895 F.2d 563 (9th Cir. 1990), and its dubious statement that "homosexuality is not an immutable characteristic; it is behavioral," id. at 573, forecloses heightened scrutiny in this case. But as this Court explicitly recognized at the hearing on Proponents' motion for summary judgment, High Tech Gays, which relied on the now-overruled Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986), rested on a moth-eaten foundation.

Dockets.Justia.com

The Honorable Vaughn R. Walker June 29, 2010 Page 2

To the extent that anything is left of High Tech Gays after Lawrence, Christian Legal Society has abrogated it entirely. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. Counsel for Plaintiffs TJB/eam Attachment

100894690_2.DOC