Romer v. Evans
"Romer v. Evans" is a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1996 that addressed issues of discrimination against homosexuals in Colorado. The case emerged in response to an amendment to the Colorado Constitution that aimed to prevent any protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority, ruled that the amendment violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause by imposing a broad and unjustified disability on a specific group. The Court found that the amendment lacked a rational basis related to legitimate government interests, ultimately reinforcing the principle that laws should not target individuals or groups for discrimination. The dissenting opinion, authored by Justice Antonin Scalia and joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, emphasized a differing viewpoint on the interpretation of the Constitution in relation to state laws. This case has significant implications for the ongoing debate about LGBTQ+ rights and the legal protections against discrimination in the United States.
Romer v. Evans
Date: May 20, 1996
Citation: 116 S.Ct. 1620
Issue: Gay and lesbian rights
Significance: The Supreme Court struck down the amendment to the Colorado state constitution that prohibited state officials from acting to protect homosexuals from discrimination.
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the opinion for the 6-3 majority, overturning a Colorado constitutional amendment approved by the voters that prohibited any executive, legislative, or judicial action designed to protect homosexuals from discrimination. Kennedy found that such a broad and undifferentiated disability placed on a single named group clearly violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. Further, the amendment lacked rationality in its connection to legitimate government interests. Beyond these critical concerns, Kennedy attacked the amendment on many very fundamental grounds for multiple violations of the Constitution and the most elementary considerations of the rule of law. Nonetheless, Justice Antonin Scalia dissented and was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist.
