Martin Rice of Kauai provided the information on which this message is based (Martin is very active in politics, especially as a member of the State Central Committee of Hawaii's Democratic Party).
"The Hawaii Supreme Court has served notice that it will issue a decision (Case No. 19765) on a 1995 request by eight Hawaii House of Representative members who sued to enjoin the state as defendants in Baehr v. Miike .....This decision will be made without hearing oral arguments, and the decision can be expected to be announced next month (November '97)." Note added by Tom Ramsey: the eight legislators wanted to be co-defendants with the state in Baehr v Miike, and present their own case against same-gender marriage as opposed to having the Attorney General represent them. So far, the Atorney General's office has represented the state and the state includes the legislature.
"There is still, as of this date, no timetable available regarding the
decision on the State's appeal of Judge Chang's December 1996 order to
issue marriage licenses to the three same-gender couples (Case No. 20371).
To be certain, same-gender marriage is currently legal in the State of
Hawaii, but the state is not required to issue those licenses under the
stay of execution ordered by Judge Chang, during which time his decision
is reviewed by the Hawaii Supreme Court."
Best Regards,
Tom Ramsey
Ex-officio, Marriage Project - Hawaii
P.S. As we all await the Hawaii Supreme Courts decisions, those opposed to same-gender marriage are planning an intense campaign for the November 1998 election. On the ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment that would overturn the Baehr v. Miike court case by giving the legislature the power to limit marriage to heterosexual couples. The campaign against us will be at least a factor of ten greater than what we've faced so far.
How can you help? Donations to continue
Baehr v. Miike can be sent to
Marriage Project - Hawaii
PO Box 11690
Honolulu, HI 96828
to pay Dan Foley's fees, support the court
case, do limited lobbying, and public education. Donations to Marriage
Project - Hawaii are fully tax-deductible.
Donations to fight political campaigns
are NOT tax deductible and may be sent to
Friends of Marriage Project Hawaii
PO Box 11690
Honolulu, HI 96828
Friends of Marriage Project - Hawaii also has a 900 number (1-900-97-MARRY) for donations that can be billed to the calling phone number (must be 18+; phone charge limited to $25).
Marriage Project - Hawaii is THE
ONLY HAWAII ORGANIZATION authorized by Dan Foley, the Hawaii attorney in
Baehr v. Miike, to raise money on behalf of the court case Baehr
v. Miike. If you wonder about the role of Bill Woods,
who styles himself as "the father of the
Hawaii's gay rights movement", PLEASE TELEPHONE Dan Foley at (808) 526-9500.
Foley and the three plaintiff couples had to distance themselves from Bill
Woods in 1993, for extremely good reasons.