Jackson v. Abercrombie

Summary

Plaintiffs sued to overturn Hawaii’s constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. They asked a federal trial court to overturn Hawaii’s marriage laws and order the state to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. When the governor refused to defend marriage, Alliance Defending Freedom did so on behalf of Hawaii Family Forum.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys explained to a federal trial court that protecting and strengthening marriage as the union of one man and one woman is legitimate, reasonable, and good for society. The trial court agreed that the legislature could conclude that marriage between one man and one woman offers an incentive for opposite-sex couples to marry and provides more naturally born children with parents who are in a stable, long-term relationship. The court also said that it is constitutional for the legislature to conclude that children should be raised by a mother and a father.

Alliance Defending Freedom continues to defend state laws that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.