Persily on Ruling Striking Down Same-Sex Marriage Ban
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
COLUMBIA EXPERT ON GENDER LAW CAN DISCUSS CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION TO STRIKE DOWN STATE’S SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN
Columbia Law’s Nate Persily Has Written Book Chapter on Issue
May 15, 2008 (NEW YORK) – Columbia Law School Professor Nathaniel Persily, a constitutional law expert whose new book examines public opinion on issues such as same-sex marriage, can speak with reporters about the implications of today’s expected decision by the California Supreme Court striking down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The ruling involve six marriage cases collectively called In re Marriage Cases, S147999.
Nathaniel Persily, Professor of Law, can be reached on his cell at 917-570-3223 or at [email protected].
PERSILY: “The decision by the California Supreme Court today striking down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is one of the most significant gay rights opinions ever issued by a court. The Court grounded its decision on the importance of marriage as a family-defining institution enforced by the state.
“Much has changed since the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a similar decision four years ago. However, still, only 40% of Americans (a record high) support legalization of same sex marriage. Moreover, if public opinion shifts as it did four years ago, we might expect that number to drop over the coming months. Over the long term, however, as a result of generational replacement, we should expect majority support for same-sex marriage within 5-10 years.”
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Nathaniel Persily, an expert on voting rights, election law, constitutional law, and American politics, has co-edited a new book, Public Opinion and Constitutional Controversy, which takes an innovative approach to measuring how greatly U.S. Supreme Court decisions mold American public opinion on such hot button issues as gay rights. To read the chapter of Persily’s book on gay rights, click here.
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, stands at the forefront of legal education and of the law in a global society. Columbia Law School joins traditional strengths in international and comparative law, constitutional law, administrative law, business law and human rights law with pioneering work in the areas of intellectual property, digital technology, sexuality and gender, and criminal law.