Just in from ACLU of Wisconsin:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge To Domestic Partnership Registry
Committed Couples Can Continue To Enjoy Limited Protections Offered By Registry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 4, 2009
CONTACT:
Chris Hampton, ACLU LGBT Project, 212-549-2673
Larry Dupuis, ACLU of Wisconsin, 414-272-4032, ext. 12
MADISON, WI - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded a decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to dismiss a challenge to the state's recently-enacted domestic partnership registry. The Court also rejected a request from board members of Wisconsin Family Action that the
registry be declared unconstitutional and put indefinitely on hold. The ACLU represents five same-sex couples who asked to be allowed to participate in the case.
"The registry certainly doesn't offer anywhere close to the protections that marriage would, but we're grateful that the couples we represented
can at least hang onto the limited legal protections it gives them, such as the ability to visit each other in the hospital," said John Knight, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU LGBT Project.
Board members of Wisconsin Family Action had asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to strike down the domestic partner law as inconsistent with the
amendment to the state constitution that bans same-sex couples from marriage. The dismissal of the case by the Wisconsin Supreme Court means
that these petitioners may not begin their case in the Wisconsin Supreme Court but may re-file their case in a circuit court (lower court), where
both sides will be able to have a trial and present evidence to support their cases.
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13953/wisconsin-supreme-court-strikes-down-dp-challenge