Case: Lee v. Orr

1:13-cv-08719 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Dec. 6, 2013

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Plaintiffs -- four same-sex Illinois couples who wished to marry--filed this case on December 6, 2013, in the U.S. district court for the Northern District of Illinois. They sued the Cook County Clerk; the state attorney general intervened. Plaintiffs brought the suit just a month after the Illinois legislature enacted Senate Bill 10, which amends the Illinois Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to be legally married in Illinois. S.B. 10, Ill. 98th Gen. Assemb., First Reg. Sess. (Ill. 2013…

Plaintiffs -- four same-sex Illinois couples who wished to marry--filed this case on December 6, 2013, in the U.S. district court for the Northern District of Illinois. They sued the Cook County Clerk; the state attorney general intervened. Plaintiffs brought the suit just a month after the Illinois legislature enacted Senate Bill 10, which amends the Illinois Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to be legally married in Illinois. S.B. 10, Ill. 98th Gen. Assemb., First Reg. Sess. (Ill. 2013). This amendment, however, was set to become effective months later, on June 1, 2014.

Some of the plaintiffs explained that they had an immediate need to marry because of life-threatening illness. On December 10, 2013, their motion for emergency relief for all Sam-sex couples facing this situation was granted by Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. Two weeks later, plaintiffs sought summary judgment more broadly, asserting that the continuation of the ban on same-sex marriage violated their due process and equal protection rights. The defendant and intervenor agreed that the court should find for the plaintiffs, and on February 21, 2014, the court accordingly granted summary judgment in their favor, holding that the Illinois ban on same-sex marriage frustrates the individual and class plaintiffs' desire to marry in their home state by denying them equal protection under the law and infringing on their fundamental right to marry. The court held unconstitutional the same-sex marriage ban of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/201.

Summary Authors

Clearinghouse (2/21/2014)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4261649/parties/lee-v-orr/


Judge(s)

Coleman, Sharon Johnson (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Beem, Marc Oliver (Illinois)

Clark, Christopher R (Illinois)

Dawson, Kay L. (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Baker, Sisavanh Baccam (Illinois)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:13-cv-08719

Docket [PACER]

Feb. 21, 2014

Feb. 21, 2014

Docket
1

1:13-cv-08719

Class Action Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

Complaint

1:13-cv-08719

Memorandum Opinion and Order [Granting Temporary Injunctive Relief]

Dec. 10, 2013

Dec. 10, 2013

Order/Opinion

2013 WL 2013

35

1:13-cv-08719

Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

Pleading / Motion / Brief
36

1:13-cv-08719

Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

Pleading / Motion / Brief
46

1:13-cv-08719

Memorandum Opinion and Order [Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment]

Feb. 21, 2014

Feb. 21, 2014

Order/Opinion

2014 WL 2014

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4261649/lee-v-orr/

Last updated March 24, 2024, 2:07 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief filed by Kenneth Ilio, Challis Gibbs, Ingrid Swenson, Brenda Lee, Patricia Tucker, Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Elvie Jordan; Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0752-9000297.(Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL Cover Sheet (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
3

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Jordan Mitchell Heinz (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
4

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Camilla Bronwen Taylor (Taylor, Camilla) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
5

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Christopher R. Clark (Clark, Christopher) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
6

MOTION by Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan for temporary restraining order, MOTION by Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan for preliminary injunction (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

2 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
7

MEMORANDUM by Ronald Dorfman, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan in support of motion for temporary restraining order,, motion for preliminary injunction, 6 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Declaration of Elvie Jordan, # 3 Declaration of Challis Gibbs, # 4 Declaration of Ronald Dorfman, # 5 Declaration of Kenneth Ilio)(Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

1 Exhibit A

View on PACER

2 Declaration of Elvie Jordan

View on PACER

3 Declaration of Challis Gibbs

View on PACER

4 Declaration of Ronald Dorfman

View on PACER

5 Declaration of Kenneth Ilio

View on PACER

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
8

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Harvey Michael Grossman (Grossman, Harvey) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
9

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by John A. Knight (Knight, John) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
10

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Karen A. Sheley (Sheley, Karen) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
11

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Marc Oliver Beem (Beem, Marc) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
12

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by M. David Weisman (Weisman, M.) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
13

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Zachary J. Freeman (Freeman, Zachary) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
14

ATTORNEY Appearance for Intervenor Plaintiff Lisa Madigan by Richard Scott Huszagh (Huszagh, Richard) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
15

MOTION by Intervenor Plaintiff Lisa Madigan to intervene (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Pleading in Intervention)(Huszagh, Richard) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

1 Proposed Pleading in Intervention

View on PACER

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

RECAP
16

MEMORANDUM by Lisa Madigan in support of motion for temporary restraining order,, motion for preliminary injunction, 6 (Huszagh, Richard) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
17

NOTICE of Motion by Jordan Mitchell Heinz for presentment of motion for temporary restraining order,, motion for preliminary injunction, 6 before Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 12/9/2013 at 01:30 PM. (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/06/2013)

Dec. 6, 2013

Dec. 6, 2013

PACER
18

ATTORNEY Appearance for Intervenor Plaintiff Lisa Madigan by Malini Rao, Assistant Attorney General (Rao, Malini) (Entered: 12/09/2013)

Dec. 9, 2013

Dec. 9, 2013

PACER
19

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant David Orr by Paul Leo Fangman (Fangman, Paul) (Entered: 12/09/2013)

Dec. 9, 2013

Dec. 9, 2013

PACER
20

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant David Orr by Kent Stephen Ray (Ray, Kent) (Entered: 12/09/2013)

Dec. 9, 2013

Dec. 9, 2013

PACER
21

ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant David Orr by Sisavanh Baccam Baker (Baker, Sisavanh) (Entered: 12/09/2013)

Dec. 9, 2013

Dec. 9, 2013

PACER
22

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman: Motion hearing held on 12/9/2013 on Plaintiffs' Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction 6 and the Illinois Attorney General's Motion to Intervene 15 . The Motion to Intervene is granted. After hearing oral arguments on the Motion and considering the submissions of the Parties, this Court grants the temporary restraining order for the named plaintiffs and takes under advisement the motion with respect to the putative subclass. The parties are to advise the Court if an agreement is reached as to particular language or procedure for implementation of injunctive relief should a TRO be granted to the proposed subclass of plaintiffs. Status hearing and ruling set for 12/16/2013 at 10:00 a.m. Enter Temporary Restraining Order.Mailed notice (rth, ) (Entered: 12/10/2013)

Dec. 9, 2013

Dec. 9, 2013

PACER
23

TEMPORARY Restraining Order Signed by the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 12/9/2013:Mailed notice(rth, ) (Entered: 12/10/2013)

Dec. 9, 2013

Dec. 9, 2013

PACER
24

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman: For the reasons stated herein, and contingent upon an agreement between the parties of a sufficiently delineated subclass or a satisfactory method of implementation of this Order, this Court grants the plaintiffs' motion for temporary injunctive relief. Status hearing set for 12/16/2013 at 10:00 a.m. to stand. Enter Memorandum Opinion and Order.Mailed notice (rth, ) (Entered: 12/10/2013)

Dec. 10, 2013

Dec. 10, 2013

PACER
25

MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order Signed by the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 12/10/2013:Mailed notice(rth, ) (Entered: 12/10/2013)

Dec. 10, 2013

Dec. 10, 2013

RECAP
26

Intervenor's Pleading by Lisa Madigan (Huszagh, Richard) (Entered: 12/11/2013)

Dec. 11, 2013

Dec. 11, 2013

PACER
27

ATTORNEY Appearance for Intervenor Plaintiff Lisa Madigan by Christopher J. Kim (Kim, Christopher) (Entered: 12/13/2013)

Dec. 13, 2013

Dec. 13, 2013

PACER
28

MOTION by Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker to certify class (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Beem, Marc) (Entered: 12/13/2013)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on PACER

Dec. 13, 2013

Dec. 13, 2013

PACER
29

NOTICE of Motion by Marc Oliver Beem for presentment of motion to certify class 28 before Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 12/16/2013 at 10:00 AM. (Beem, Marc) (Entered: 12/13/2013)

Dec. 13, 2013

Dec. 13, 2013

PACER
30

MEMORANDUM by Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker in support of motion to certify class 28 (Beem, Marc) (Entered: 12/13/2013)

Dec. 13, 2013

Dec. 13, 2013

PACER
31

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman: Status hearing held on 12/16/2013. Plaintiffs' motion to certify the sub-class is granted based on the court's previous ruling. Plaintiffs' motion to certify class, presented in court, there being no objection 28 is granted. Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction as to the sub-class of the medically critical individuals is granted and entered. Enter Preliminary Injunction. Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment to be filed by 12/24/2013. Response due by 1/9/2014. Reply, if necessary, due by 1/16/2014. Attorney General intervenor to file supporting brief by 1/9/2014. Upon being fully briefed, the court will inform the parties if oral argument is needed, otherwise it is taken under advisement. Mailed notice (rth, ) (Entered: 12/16/2013)

Dec. 16, 2013

Dec. 16, 2013

PACER
32

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION Signed by the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 12/16/2013:Mailed notice(rth, ) (Entered: 12/16/2013)

Dec. 16, 2013

Dec. 16, 2013

PACER
33

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS held on 12/9/13 before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman. TRO. Court Reporter Contact Information: TRACEY D. McCULLOUGH, 312-435-5570, Tracey_Mccullough@ilnd.uscourts.gov. IMPORTANT: The transcript may be viewed at the court's public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through the Court Reporter/Transcriber or PACER. For further information on the redaction process, see the Court's web site at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov under Quick Links select Policy Regarding the Availability of Transcripts of Court Proceedings. Redaction Request due 1/13/2014. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 1/22/2014. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 3/24/2014. (Mccullough, Tracey) (Entered: 12/22/2013)

Dec. 22, 2013

Dec. 22, 2013

PACER
34

WAIVER OF SERVICE returned executed by Patricia Tucker, Lee Edwards, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson. David Orr waiver sent on 12/23/2013, answer due 2/21/2014. (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/24/2013)

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

PACER
35

MOTION by Plaintiffs Patricia Tucker, Lee Edwards, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson for summary judgment (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/24/2013)

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

Clearinghouse
36

MEMORANDUM by Lee Edwards, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker in support of motion for summary judgment 35 (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/24/2013)

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

Clearinghouse
37

RULE 56 Statement by Lee Edwards, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker regarding motion for summary judgment 35 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Jordan Heinz, # 2 Exhibit 1 to Declaration of Jordan Heinz, # 3 Exhibit 2 to Declaration of Jordan Heinz, # 4 Declaration of Brenda Lee, # 5 Declaration of Lee Edwards, # 6 Declaration of Patricia Tucker, # 7 Declaration of Ingrid Swenson)(Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 12/24/2013)

1 Declaration of Jordan Heinz

View on PACER

2 Exhibit 1 to Declaration of Jordan Heinz

View on PACER

3 Exhibit 2 to Declaration of Jordan Heinz

View on PACER

4 Declaration of Brenda Lee

View on PACER

5 Declaration of Lee Edwards

View on PACER

6 Declaration of Patricia Tucker

View on PACER

7 Declaration of Ingrid Swenson

View on PACER

Dec. 24, 2013

Dec. 24, 2013

PACER
38

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Kay L. Dawson (Dawson, Kay) (Entered: 01/07/2014)

Jan. 7, 2014

Jan. 7, 2014

PACER
39

MEMORANDUM by Lisa Madigan in support of motion for summary judgment 35 (Huszagh, Richard) (Entered: 01/09/2014)

Jan. 9, 2014

Jan. 9, 2014

PACER
40

MEMORANDUM motion for summary judgment 35 by David Orr Response (Fangman, Paul) (Entered: 01/09/2014)

Jan. 9, 2014

Jan. 9, 2014

PACER
41

RULE 56 56.1(b) Statement by David Orr regarding motion for summary judgment 35 Response (Fangman, Paul) (Entered: 01/09/2014)

Jan. 9, 2014

Jan. 9, 2014

PACER
42

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiffs Ronald Dorfman, Lee Edwards, Challis Gibbs, Kenneth Ilio, Elvie Jordan, Brenda Lee, Ingrid Swenson, Patricia Tucker by Jeremy Mark Press (Press, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/16/2014)

Jan. 16, 2014

Jan. 16, 2014

PACER
43

SUPPLEMENT to motion for summary judgment 35, memorandum in support of motion 36 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Press, Jeremy) (Entered: 01/17/2014)

1 Exhibit A

View on PACER

Jan. 17, 2014

Jan. 17, 2014

RECAP
44

SUGGESTION of Death as to Plaintiff Ronald Dorfman (Heinz, Jordan) (Entered: 02/11/2014)

Feb. 11, 2014

Feb. 11, 2014

RECAP
45

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman: No genuine issue of material fact exists for a trier-of-fact to resolve therefore this Court grants summary judgment 35 in favor of the plaintiffs. Enter Memorandum Opinion and Order. Civil case terminated. Mailed notice (rth, ) (Entered: 02/21/2014)

Feb. 21, 2014

Feb. 21, 2014

RECAP
46

MEMORANDUM Opinion and Order Signed by the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman on 2/21/2014:Mailed notice(rth, ) (Entered: 02/21/2014)

Feb. 21, 2014

Feb. 21, 2014

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Same-Sex Marriage

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 6, 2013

Closing Date: Feb. 21, 2014

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All persons who reside in Illinois who apply for marriage licenses and who, but for their sex, satisfy all legal requirements for marriage under Illinois law, and a subclass of class members who have a need to marry prior to June 1, 2014 due to a life-threatening illness of one of them.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU National (all projects)

Lambda Legal

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Cook County Clerk (Cook), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Non-settlement Outcome

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Declaratory Judgment

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Order Duration: 2014 - None

Content of Injunction:

Discrimination Prohibition

Issues

General:

Marriage

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Sexual orientation

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Male