U.S. court refuses to undo gay rights ruling in pharma case
Source: Reuters
U.S. court refuses to undo gay rights ruling in pharma case
Source: Reuters - Tue, 24 Jun 2014 17:55 GMT
By Dan Levine
SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday refused to disturb an order extending landmark constitutional protections for gays and lesbians, an issue which arose when a gay man was excluded from jury service at a trial between AbbVie Inc and GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in January had found that the man was improperly excluded because of his sexual orientation. The court's January opinion, from a three-judge panel, heightened constitutional protections judges in several Western states must now apply when evaluating laws that curtail gay rights.
The court ordered a new trial between Glaxo and AbbVie, an Abbott Laboratories spinoff. AbbVie requested that the full court rehear the order for a new trial but leave in place the pro-gay rights language. On Tuesday, the 9th Circuit refused.
AbbVie spokesman Dirk Van Eeden said the company was studying the latest decision. Glaxo spokesman Marc Meacham said the Glaxo was "gratified that the court has once again ruled in our favor and sustained the order for a new trial."
Read more: http://www.trust.org/item/20140624175209-89fmr/
William769
(55,043 posts)Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)I don't know the SCOTUS would agree if this decision is appealed but it once again underscores the fact that one's sexual orientation is not a reason to deny them equal rights and obligations under the Constitution.