Law firm drops 'homophobic' DOMA case: A setback for the GOP?
The House Republicans' lawyers quit after taking heat from gay rights advocates, but Speaker John Boehner vows to keep fighting
King & Spalding, the law firm House Republicans hired to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), backed out of the case on Monday, after facing intense criticism from gay rights advocates. The law, which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, had been derided by some as "homophobic." After King & Spalding dropped out, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, the lawyer who had agreed to represent GOP leaders, promptly resigned from the firm, and promised to stick with the case on his own, saying lawyers shouldn't ditch clients just because their "legal position is extremely unpopular in certain quarters." House Speaker John Boehner had hired the private attorneys when the Obama administration announced in February that it would no longer defend DOMA in court. Will this make it harder for the GOP to keep the law alive?
Yes, this will hurt opponents of gay marriage: No doubt about it — this is a huge setback for House Republicans, says Alana Goodman at Commentary. "It will be tough for them to convince a major, credible law firm to sign on to the case after this," and they'll need big guns to win. The Right sees the intimidation of King & Spalding as "an unfortunate blow to civil liberties," but to the Left this has the feel of a significant victory.
"Law firm drops DOMA case after attacks from gay rights groups"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Actually, the legal fight remains unchanged: "As a matter of law, nothing, absolutely nothing, changes on account of Monday's made-for-cable whipsaw," says Andrew Cohen at The Atlantic. Clement merely jumped to another white-shoe firm, so the GOP leadership will still have an army of lawyers and paralegals in its camp. "As a matter of politics and protocol, however, boy oh boy is this an uncomfortable way to start the first days of the rest of DOMA's life."
"In DOMA dispute, Paul Clement leaves with a bang"
The legal system is the real victim: "The Defense of Marriage is rotten legislation," says Jennifer Rubin at The Washington Post, and the Supreme Court may well decide it's unconstitutional, no matter how strong a fight the GOP House leadership puts up in court. The real tragedy here is that the Left's political bullying is determining who deserves representation and who doesn't, and that weakens the legal system for everyone.
"The left decides who gets lawyers"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published