Case: Dronenburg v. Brown

S212172 | California state trial court

Filed Date: June 26, 2013

Closed Date: Aug. 14, 2013

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Case Summary

On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry. That case had challenged the constitutionality of California Prop. 8, which barred same-sex couples from getting married. On August 4, 2010, Judge Vaughn Walker, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, issued an opinion striking down Prop. 8. The opinion was stayed pending appeal to the 9th Circuit. The 9th Circuit eventually affirmed, but kept the stay in place during further revi…

On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry. That case had challenged the constitutionality of California Prop. 8, which barred same-sex couples from getting married. On August 4, 2010, Judge Vaughn Walker, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, issued an opinion striking down Prop. 8. The opinion was stayed pending appeal to the 9th Circuit. The 9th Circuit eventually affirmed, but kept the stay in place during further review (on certiorari) in the Supreme Court. In its June 26 opinion, the Supreme Court held that the 9th Circuit lacked jurisdiction and therefore vacated the appellate decision--but left the district court decision in place. For more details about Hollingsworth v. Perry, refer to this Clearinghouse page. On June 28, 2013, Ninth Circuit dissolved its stay of the district court's order, allowing same-sex marriages to proceed in California.

Two legal challenges to the implementation of the ruling followed, both dismissed by the courts:

First, the day after the Ninth Circuit dissolved its stay, proponents of Proposition 8 filed an emergency application asking the Supreme Court to enforce the usual 25 day period in which the losing party may make a petition for rehearing; Circuit Justice Kennedy, overseeing the Ninth Circuit, denied the request on June 30, 2013.

Next came this proceeding, in which Proposition 8 supporters sought a discretionary Writ of Mandate before the Supreme Court of California on July 19, 2013. They asked the court to stay, and then override, the statewide application of Judge Walker's district court ruling in Hollingsworth. They argued that the federal case was not a class-action lawsuit and therefore the federal judgment applied only to the counties and specific individuals named in the suit. The plaintiffs were Dennis Hollingsworth and others. Hollingsworth, the San Diego County Clerk, was also the defendant in Hollingsworth v. Perry.

The plaintiffs had very little support by others in California. Governor Jerry Brown ordered state officials to change the marriage license requirements, and he was supported in that by California Attorney General Kamala Harris and twenty-four County Clerks. On July 23, the California Supreme Court unanimously declined the request for immediate action and requested arguments from the parties; on August 14, in a one-sentence unanimous order without dissent, unanimously refused to take up the petition.

On July 23, 2013, the Court denied the petitioner's motion for an immediate temporary stay. On August 5, 2013, the petitioner filed a motion to dismiss his own case. This request was granted by the Court, and the case was closed on August 14, 2013.

Summary Authors

Megan Dolan (8/14/2014)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

LiMandri, Charles Salvatore (California)

Mendoza, Teresa (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

S212172

Docket

California state supreme court

Aug. 14, 2013

Aug. 14, 2013

Docket

S212172

Verified Petition for Writ of Mandate and Request for Immediate Temporary Stay; Memorandum of Points and Authorities

California state supreme court

July 19, 2013

July 19, 2013

Complaint

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Same-Sex Marriage

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 26, 2013

Closing Date: Aug. 14, 2013

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff was the County Clerk of San Diego County who petitioned the Court to issue a temporary injunction against California county clerks issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State of California, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Marriage

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Sexual orientation