Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana
What's at Stake
Six committed same-sex couples have sued the state of Montana for failing to offer legal protections to same-sex couples and their families in violation of the Montana Constitution's rights of privacy, dignity and the pursuit of life's basic necessities and its guarantees of equal protection and due process. The goal of this lawsuit is to see that same-sex couples are able to protect their families with the same kind of legal protections that the State offers to different-sex couples through marriage.
Summary
Because there is a constitutional amendment in Montana barring marriage for same-sex couples, this lawsuit is not seeking marriage. The couples in the suit are seeking the protection of state-recognized domestic partnerships.
STATUS: The Montana Supreme Court has granted, in part, our appeal to secure domestic partnership protections. Though the court denied the plaintiffs’ initial appeal as too broad, the justices allowed the ACLU to move forward with more narrowly tailored efforts to secure equal treatment for same-sex couples in the state.
Legal Documents
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12/27/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - State's Combined Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss and Opposition to Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 12/27/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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12/20/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Brief of Amici Curiae Gates and Badgett in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellants
Date Filed: 12/20/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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12/17/2012
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Opinion and Order
Date Filed: 12/17/2012
Affiliate: Montana
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12/10/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 12/10/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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12/10/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 12/10/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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12/09/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Affidavit of George Chauncey, Ph. D.
Date Filed: 12/09/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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12/08/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Affidavit of Letitia Anne Peplau, Ph. D.
Date Filed: 12/08/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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12/08/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Affidavit of Suzanne D. Dixon, MD, MPH
Date Filed: 12/08/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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12/05/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Brief of Amici Curiae Constitutional Law Professors in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellants
Date Filed: 12/05/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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11/21/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Amicus Brief of Montana Religious Leaders
Date Filed: 11/21/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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11/21/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Amicus Brief of Legal Voice and Montana Human Rights Network
Date Filed: 11/21/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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11/21/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Amicus Brief of American Psychological Assocation and Montana Psychological Association
Date Filed: 11/21/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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11/15/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana – Appeal to Montana Supreme Court
Date Filed: 11/15/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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11/14/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Appellants' Opening Brief
Date Filed: 11/14/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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08/04/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana – Appeal
Date Filed: 08/04/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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07/22/2010
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Complaint
Date Filed: 07/22/2010
Affiliate: Montana
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07/15/2013
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 07/15/2013
Affiliate: Montana
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04/19/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Court Order on Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 04/19/2011
Affiliate: Montana
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02/27/2012
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Appellants' Reply Brief
Date Filed: 02/27/2012
Affiliate: Montana
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01/12/2011
Donaldson and Guggenheim v. Montana - Plaintiffs' Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 01/12/2011
Affiliate: Montana
Press Releases
ACLU and Seven Same-Sex Couples Continue Case to Secure Domestic Partnership Protections in Montana
ACLU Asks Montana Supreme Court to Grant Legal Protection to Same Sex Couples
ACLU Appeals Same-Sex Domestic Partnership Case to Montana Supreme Court
Montana Same-Sex Couples Sue State For Legal Protections For Their Families