BOSTON, MA - Today, Liberty Counsel filed a federal lawsuit against the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and each of the City and Town Clerks in Massachusetts. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Robert Largess, a Boston citizen and Vice-President of the Catholic Action League.

The lawsuit asks the federal court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order to stop the enforcement of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's ruling establishing same-sex marriage and to stop the issuance and recording of marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples. The decision allowing same-sex marriage is scheduled to go into effect next Monday, May 17, 2004. Joining Liberty Counsel in the lawsuit are the Citizens for the Preservation of Constitutional Rights, The Thomas More Law Center and the AFA Center for Law & Policy.

On November 18, 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued its opinion in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health. The decision redefined marriage to allow same-sex couples to marry in Massachusetts, something that had never been done before in the history of marriage. The Court cavalierly noted in the opinion that, "We are mindful that our decision marks a change in the history of our marriage law."

The Court stayed its decision for 180 days to allow the Massachusetts Legislature time to respond to the decision. The Legislature responded by passing an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman only. Under Massachusetts law, the earliest the voters can vote to approve the amendment is 2006. In the meantime, the decision goes into effect Monday, May 17.

The lawsuit argues that the Court's decision violates Article 4, Section 4, of the United States Constitution, which is called the Guarantee Clause. That Clause guarantees that every State in the Union will have a Republican Form of Government. The Guarantee Clause places the federal government in the position of a referee over the States to ensure that the States follow a Republican form of government. The Guarantee Clause was a requirement for States to be admitted into the Union. The Clause is violated in this case because the Massachusetts Supreme Court usurped the power of the Legislature and the Governor in hearing the Goodridge case and in redefining marriage. The Massachusetts Constitution clearly gives the authority to hear all marriage cases to the Governor and the Legislature, not the Courts.

Through the years, the Legislature has transferred a limited amount of that power to the Courts, but only to hear cases involving divorce, annulment, affirmation and alimony. If the marriage case does not fit within these categories, the Court is without power to hear the case. In 1999, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down Boston's attempt to redefine the word "family" to include same-sex couples. The Massachusetts Supreme Court violated the principle of separation of powers when it redefined marriage to include same-sex couples.

There is nothing more basic to a Republican form of government than the principle of separation of powers. When that is violated, as the Massachusetts Supreme Court did in this case, the federal government is obligated to step in to ensure that the citizens' right to have a Republican form of government in their state is protected.

Mat Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, stated, "The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court usurped the power of the Governor and the Legislature when it impermissibly redefined marriage to include same-sex couples." Staver continued, "The federal courts are obligated to step in to ensure that Massachusetts is following the basic principle of separation of powers that is vital to our very system of law and government."

Staver concluded, "When the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court usurped the power of the Legislature by reformulating the definition of marriage, it violated the federal constitutional guarantee of a Republican form of government. We are confident that the federal courts will act to restrain this abuse of power by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court."