Lambda Legal has been making the case for marriage equality in New Jersey for nearly a decade. Now we’re back in court to finish what we started, and to fulfill the objective the state’s highest court ordered in its 2006 decision in our Lewis v. Harris case: equal rights for New Jersey’s lesbian and gay couples. Here’s a brief timeline:
- January 2001 Lambda Legal starts building the foundation for New Jersey to expand its protections of same-sex couples’ relationships.
- June 2002 Lambda Legal files historic lawsuit in New Jersey state court seeking marriage equality for same-sex couples.
- June 2003 Lambda Legal argues the case in court.
- November 2003 Trial court upholds the exclusion from marriage.
- December 2004 Lambda Legal argues appeal before the intermediate appellate court.
- June 2005 Appellate division affirms lower court, 2–1.
- February 2006 Lambda Legal presents oral argument to the New Jersey Supreme Court.
- October 2006 The seven justices unanimously agree that denying same-sex couples the rights and benefits different-sex couples obtain through marriage is unconstitutional. The Court directs state legislature to take action within 180 days.
- December 2006 Legislature passes civil union bill. Lambda Legal launches "Civil Union Watch" to monitor the law’s effectiveness.
- December 2008 New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission, appointed by the legislature, concludes that civil unions are insufficient and do not provide equality.
- January 2010 New Jersey Senate votes down a marriage equality bill.
- March 2010 Lambda Legal files a Motion in Aid of Litigants’ Rights, reactivating the case for marriage equality on behalf of the plaintiffs in the original Lewis v. Harris lawsuit.
- July 2010 Supreme Court denies motion; requires further proceedings to develop record in Superior Court.
- June 2011 Lambda Legal files new lawsuit, Garden State Equality v. Dow, in Superior Court.
