1. Obergefell v Hodges
By: Lynzee Morris

2. The Constitutional Issue
The 14th amendment
Guarantees all citizens “equal protection of the laws”
Due process clause/ Equal Protection Clause
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
The right to marry is guaranteed to same sex couples under this clause as a fundamental liberty.

3. Parties Involved Time and Place
Obergefell- the main petitioner
Hodges- director of Ohio Department of Health
14 couples and 2 men whose partners died
Time and Place
Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee
Groups of gay couples sued their state agencies in these states
January 16, granted
April 28, argued
June 26, decided

4. Events leading up What was happening in world
The couples filed suits in federal courts
Denied right to marry or be recognized as married
What was happening in world
People were being denied marriage as same sex couples
Refugee crisis in Europe due to Syrian Civil War
ISIS terrorist attacks in Paris, Turkey, Ankara, and US
Paris Climate Accord- document attempting to slow climate change
China’s economy was slowing down and stock market plunged

5. Courts before Supreme Court’s Ruling
Trials in each separate states
US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Favor of plaintiffs
Trial courts in each state
US Court of Appeals
Reversed that decision
Supreme Court’s Ruling
5-4 favored
Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan- for
Roberts, Thomas, Scalia, and Alito- against

6. Reasoning for Ruling Opposing Viewpoints
Due process clause and equal protection clause of 14th amendment guarantee right to marry as a fundamental liberty
Opposing Viewpoints
Constitution doesn’t address it
Beyond purview of court to decide for the states

7. I agree with the ruling
I agree with the ruling, because all people should be able to marry the person they love without question. There are too many countries without LGBTQ+ rights or that punish people that identify in this community. All of these people are perfectly normal and deserve the same rights as any straight couple. Therefore, gay marriage should definitely be legal and recognized in all 50 states.

8. Majority Opinion Dissenting Opinion
Under due process and equal protection clauses, same sex couples are not allowed to be denied the right and liberty of marriage. This opinion was written by Kennedy.
Dissenting Opinion
The chief justices have no right to decide what the law should be, and this decision will cause a social divide. This opinion was written by Roberts.

9. Significance
The immediate impact is that the 14 couples from the petition will now be able to get married or be recognized as married. The long term impact is that couples for many years to come won’t have to experience not being allowed to get married. Hopefully, this ruling will also lead to more people accepting gay couples as “normal”. This case is “landmark” because it led to many people feeling more comfortable being out and proud, and allowed so many couples to be able to marry wherever they live without worries.