Case: Wolf v. Walker

3:14-cv-00064 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Filed Date: Feb. 3, 2014

Closed Date: July 7, 2015

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Case Summary

Four same-sex couples in Wisconsin filed this federal lawsuit on Feb. 3, 2014, challenging Wisconsin's 2006 constitutional amendment that barred same-sex marriage, and a "marriage evasion law" prohibiting couples - gay and straight - from going elsewhere to marry if the marriage would be prohibited in the state. (Penalties for violating this law, which is apparently unique to Wisconsin, include up to $10,000 in fines and nine months in prison.) Represented by the ACLU LGBT Project, the ACLU of…

Like other similar lawsuits, the complaint alleged that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violated equal protection and due process under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs consisted of three same-sex couples who wished to be married in Wisconsin and one same-sex couple who asked the state of Wisconsin to recognize their marriage that was formalized in another state. The plaintiffs sought a declaration that any Wisconsin laws that ban same-sex marriage are in violation of the United States Constitution. They also sought an injunction preventing the defendants from enforcing laws that ban same-sex marriage and requiring the recognition of the marriages of same-sex couples already legally married in other states, as well as an award of costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees.

On June 6, 2014, District Judge Barbara B. Crabb granted summary judgment for the plaintiffs. Judge Crabb declared the laws that prohibited same-sex marriages in Wisconsin to be unconstitutional and she asked both the plaintiffs and the defendants to submit a proposed injunction that complies with the contents of the order. The defendants filed an Emergency Motion for Temporary Stay of the order on the same day that the order was signed, seeking clarification of the order's scope. This was granted, and a hearing was held on June 9, 2014. At that point, the motion to stay was denied by the district court.

County clerks around Wisconsin began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and in some cases performing marriage ceremonies for them. However, on June 13, Judge Crabb stayed enforcement of her decision. She explained that a stay entered by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Herbert v. Kitchen compelled her to do so.

On July 10, 2014, the state appealed the decision to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; the Court of Appeals combined the case for briefing and oral argument with a similar Indiana case, Baskin v. Bogan. On September 4, 2014, the Seventh Circuit, in a unanimous opinion authored by Judge Richard Posner, and joined by Judges Williams and Hamilton, found in favor of the plaintiffs and affirmed the district court's judgments invalidating and enjoining these two states' prohibitions of same-sex marriage. The opinion primarily addressed the question of equal protection and said that the states of Indiana and Wisconsin have no rational basis behind the prohibition of same-sex marriage. The court also suggested that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has all the hallmarks of a 'suspect class'. The Court stayed its mandate pending a decision on the defendants' petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court denied the petition on October 6, 2014 and the Seventh Circuit issued its mandate.

On March 27, 2015, the court entered the parties' Stipulation and Agreement as to Costs and Attorneys' Fees. The defendants agreed to pay the plaintiffs $1,055,000 in attorneys' fees and costs.

On April 20, 2015, the plaintiffs filed a motion to enforce the injunction. The plaintiffs argued that the Department of Health Services treated them differently from heterosexual married couples by refusing to place both of their names on their child's birth certificate. Judge Crabb found that the injunction did not encompass the alleged birth certificate issue and denied the plaintiffs' motion without prejudice on July 7, 2015.


3:14-cv-00064	General Docket Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit	June 11, 2014	June 11, 2014 Docket
3:14-cv-00064 14-02266	Docket [PACER]	July 7, 2015	July 7, 2015 Docket
1 3:14-cv-00064	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	Feb. 3, 2014	Feb. 3, 2014 Complaint
92 3:14-cv-00064	Opinion and Order [Denying Motion to Stay]	March 24, 2014	March 24, 2014 Order/Opinion 9 F.Supp.3d 889
97 3:14-cv-00064	Opinion and Order [Granting in Part Motion to Dismiss]	April 30, 2014	April 30, 2014 Order/Opinion 2014 WL 1729098
118 3:14-cv-00064 14-02266	Opinion and Order	June 6, 2014	June 6, 2014 Order/Opinion 986 F.Supp.2d 982
119 3:14-cv-00064 14-02266	State Defendants' Emergency Motion for Temporary Stay	June 6, 2014	June 6, 2014 Pleading / Motion / Brief
134 3:14-cv-00064	Opinion and Order	June 13, 2014	June 13, 2014 Order/Opinion 26 F.Supp.3d 866
212 3:14-cv-00064	Opinion of the 7th Circuit Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit	Sept. 4, 2014	Sept. 4, 2014 Order/Opinion 766 F.3d 648
14-00278	Opinion [Denying Petition for Certiorari] Supreme Court of the United States	Oct. 6, 2014	Oct. 6, 2014 Order/Opinion 135 S.Ct. 316

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Feb. 3, 2014	COMPLAINT for Declaratory & Injunctive Relief against All Defendants. ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 0758-1292054.), filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 JS-44 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Gary King, # 3 Summons JB Van Hollen, # 4 Summons Joseph Czarnezki, # 5 Summons Oskar Anderson, # 6 Summons Richard Chandler, # 7 Summons Scott McDonell, # 8 Summons Scott Walker) (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/03/2014) 1 JS-44 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons Gary King View on PACER 3 Summons JB Van Hollen View on PACER 4 Summons Joseph Czarnezki View on PACER 5 Summons Oskar Anderson View on PACER 6 Summons Richard Chandler View on PACER 7 Summons Scott McDonell View on PACER 8 Summons Scott Walker View on PACER	RECAP
2	Feb. 3, 2014	Notice of Appearance filed by John Anthony Knight for Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf (Knight, John) (Entered: 02/03/2014)	RECAP
3	Feb. 3, 2014	Summons Issued as to All Defendants (main document - Oskar Anderson). (Attachments: # 1 Summons Richard Chandler, # 2 Summons Joseph Czarnezki, # 3 Summons Gary King, # 4 Summons Scott McDonell, # 5 Summons J.B. Van Hollen, # 6 Summons Scott Walker) (krj) (Entered: 02/03/2014) 1 Summons Richard Chandler View on PACER 2 Summons Joseph Czarnezki View on PACER 3 Summons Gary King View on PACER 4 Summons Scott McDonell View on PACER 5 Summons J.B. Van Hollen View on PACER 6 Summons Scott Walker View on PACER	RECAP
4	Feb. 3, 2014	Motion to Admit James D. Esseks Pro Hac Vice. ( Pro Hac Vice fee $ 50 receipt number 0758-1292267.) by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf. (Esseks, James) (Entered: 02/03/2014)	RECAP
5	Feb. 4, 2014	TEXT ONLY ORDER ORDER granting 4 Motion to Admit James D. Esseks Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Peter A. Oppeneer on 2/4/14. (krj) (Entered: 02/04/2014)	RECAP
6	Feb. 4, 2014	Motion to Admit Gretchen E. Helfrich Pro Hac Vice. ( Pro Hac Vice fee $ 50 receipt number 0758-1293066.) by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf. (Helfrich, Gretchen) (Entered: 02/04/2014)	RECAP
7	Feb. 4, 2014	TEXT ONLY ORDER ORDER granting 6 Motion to Admit Gretchen E. Helfrich Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Peter A. Oppeneer on 2/4/14. (krj) (Entered: 02/04/2014)	RECAP
8	Feb. 5, 2014	Notice of Appearance filed by Gretchen E. Helfrich for Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf (Helfrich, Gretchen) (Entered: 02/05/2014)	RECAP
9	Feb. 6, 2014	Motion to Admit Frank M. Dickerson, III Pro Hac Vice. ( Pro Hac Vice fee $ 50 receipt number 0758-1294040.) by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf. (Dickerson, Frank) (Entered: 02/06/2014)	RECAP
10	Feb. 6, 2014	Notice of Appearance filed by Frank M. Dickerson, III for Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf (Dickerson, Frank) (Entered: 02/06/2014)	RECAP
11	Feb. 6, 2014	TEXT ONLY ORDER ORDER granting 9 Motion to Admit Frank M. Dickerson III Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Peter A. Oppeneer on 2/6/14. (krj) (Entered: 02/06/2014)	RECAP
12	Feb. 7, 2014	Motion to Admit Hans J. Germann Pro Hac Vice. ( Pro Hac Vice fee $ 50 receipt number 0758-1294838.) by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Marie Carlson, Katharina Heyning, Charvonne Kemp, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Garth Wangemann, Virginia Wolf. (Germann, Hans) (Entered: 02/07/2014)	RECAP
13	Feb. 10, 2014	TEXT ONLY ORDER ORDER granting 12 Motion to Admit Hans J. Germann Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Peter A. Oppeneer on 2/10/14. (krj) (Entered: 02/10/2014)	RECAP
14	Feb. 18, 2014	ANSWER by Defendant Scott McDonell. (Gault, David) (Entered: 02/18/2014)	RECAP
15	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. Oskar Anderson served on 2/6/2014, answer due 2/27/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
16	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. Richard G. Chandler served on 2/6/2014, answer due 2/27/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
17	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. Joseph Czarnezki served on 2/6/2014, answer due 2/27/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
18	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. Gary King served on 2/13/2014, answer due 3/6/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
19	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. Scott McDonell served on 2/6/2014, answer due 2/27/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
20	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. J.B. Van Hollen served on 2/6/2014, answer due 2/27/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
21	Feb. 19, 2014	Summons Returned Executed. Scott Walker served on 2/6/2014, answer due 2/27/2014. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/19/2014)	RECAP
22	Feb. 21, 2014	Notice of Appearance filed by Timothy Craig Samuelson for Defendants Oskar Anderson, Richard G. Chandler, Gary King, J.B. Van Hollen, Scott Walker (Samuelson, Timothy) (Entered: 02/21/2014)	RECAP
23	Feb. 21, 2014	Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Complaint by Defendants Oskar Anderson, Richard G. Chandler, Gary King, J.B. Van Hollen, Scott Walker. (Samuelson, Timothy) Modified on 2/25/2014. (lak) (Entered: 02/21/2014)	RECAP
24	Feb. 21, 2014	TEXT ONLY ORDER ORDER granting 23 Motion for Extension of Time. Defendants Anderson, Chandler, King, Van Hollen, and Walker answers due 3/20/14. Signed by Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker on 2/21/14. (krj) (Entered: 02/21/2014)	RECAP
25	Feb. 26, 2014	ANSWER by Defendant Joseph Czarnezki. (Bargren, Paul) (Entered: 02/26/2014)	RECAP
26	Feb. 27, 2014	AMENDED COMPLAINT (First) against All Defendants, filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Summons to John Chisholm, # 2 Summons to Wendy Christensen) (Dupuis, Laurence) Modified on 2/28/2014. (lak) (Entered: 02/27/2014) 1 Summons to John Chisholm View on PACER 2 Summons to Wendy Christensen View on PACER	RECAP
27	Feb. 27, 2014	MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young. (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
28	Feb. 27, 2014	Proposed Findings of Fact filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
29	Feb. 27, 2014	Brief in Support of 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
30	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Laurence J. Dupuis filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Cosponsorship Memo, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Drafter's File, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Vote Yes for Marriage Flyer, # 4 Exhibit - Power Point Presentation) (Dupuis, Laurence) Modified on 2/28/2014. (lak) (Entered: 02/27/2014) 1 Exhibit 1 - Cosponsorship Memo View on PACER 2 Exhibit 2 - Drafter's File View on PACER 3 Exhibit 3 - Vote Yes for Marriage Flyer View on PACER 4 Exhibit - Power Point Presentation View on PACER	RECAP
31	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Roy Badger filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
32	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Keith Borden filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
33	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Marie Carlson filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
34	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Salud Garcia filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
35	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Katharina Heyning filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
36	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of William Hurtubise filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
37	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Charvonne Kemp filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
38	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Pamela Kleiss filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
39	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Leslie Palmer filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (Dupuis, Laurence) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP
40	Feb. 27, 2014	Declaration of Carol Schumacher filed by Plaintiffs Roy Badger, Keith Borden, Marie Carlson, Salud Garcia, Katharina Heyning, William Huturbise, Charvonne Kemp, Pamela Kleiss, Leslie Palmer, Carol Schumacher, Judith Trampf, Johannes Wallman, Garth Wangemann, Karina Willes, Virginia Wolf, Kami Young re: 27 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. (Dupuis, Laurence) Modified on 2/28/2014. (lak) (Entered: 02/27/2014)	RECAP

Case: Wolf v. Walker

3:14-cv-00064 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

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Docket for: Wolf, Virginia v. Walker, Scott

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