Lewis v. Harris

Lewis v. Harris,
Docket #15-03, Mercer County Super. Ct. (N.J.)

On June 26, 2002, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund filed suit on behalf of seven same-sex couples challenging the constitutionality of New Jersey marriage laws. The lawsuit, originally filed in Hudson County Superior Court, named the state registrar of vital statistics and seven local clerks and registrars as defendants. On October 9, 2002, the complaint was amended to name only state officials as defendants. The case was transferred to Mercer County on November 22, 2002.

The complaint includes claims that the New Jersey laws violate the plaintiffs right to equal protection of the law and deny plaintiffs their fundamental right to marry.

On February 24, 2003, New Jersey Acting Attorney General Peter Harvey filed a motion to dismiss the case. At a June 27, 2003 hearing, Judge Feinberg converted the motion to dismiss into cross-motions for summary judgment, requesting further briefing from the parties.

Current Status

On November 5, 2003, Judge Feinberg granted the State's motion for summary judgment.

Case Files

Trial Court

Complaint (50KB)

Attorney General's Motion to Dismiss (1.26mb)
Notice of Motion (67kb)
Form of Order (48kb)
Certificate of Service (24kb)

Lambda's Brief in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss (246kb)
Lambda's Motion for Summary Judgement (3.18mb)

Amicus Brief of Alliance for Marriage (885kb)
Amicus Brief of NJ Family Policy Council, et al. (229kb)
Amicus Brief of Monmouth Rubber & Plastics (221kb)

Amicus Brief of the ACLU of New Jersey (125kb)

Amicus Brief of the National Legal Foundation

Trial Opinion (124kb)

 

 

Appellate Division

Lambda Appellant's Brief (5.6mb)
AG Appellee's Brief
Lambda Reply Brief

Alliance for Marriage Amicus Brief
Monmouth Tire and Plastics Amicus Brief
New Jersey Family Policy Council, et. al Amicus Brief
United Families International Amicus Brief

Judge Robinson Opinion (from ACLU's website)

Appellate Decision, June 15, 2005

Related News Articles

6/28/02	Seven New Jersey Couples Seek Marriage Licenses