News

George W. Bush Appointee Cites Federalism to Strike DOMA

February 23, 2012

(Washington, DC) - In striking down Article III of the so-called "Defense of Marriage" Act (DOMA), U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White, a George W. Bush appointee, made the conservative case for restoring federalism in our nation's treatment of marriage.

"Judge White described DOMA as 'drastically altering... federalist balance in the area of domestic relations,' as a 'stark departure from tradition and a blatant disregard of the well-accepted concept of federalism' and 'a radical departure from the tradition of federalism.' He is correct on all counts, and Log Cabin Republicans are pleased with his decision to strike this noxious law," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. "While President Obama has abdicated his role in the legal process, his administration continues to enforce DOMA, harming legally married couples in the states. The only way to rid our nation of DOMA is the judicial process, or through bipartisan passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. Log Cabin Republicans will continue to make the conservative case for respecting all marriages legally conducted in the states, and Judge White's firmly federalist ruling is a welcome addition to that effort."