WHO: ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum

WHAT: Available for media interviews following oral arguments in Lewis v. New York State Department of Civil Service and Godfrey v. Spano

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 13, immediately after hearing, which begins at 2 p.m. EDT

WHERE: New York Court of Appeals, 20 Eagle St., Albany

ALBANY, N.Y. — Alliance Defense Fund Senior Counsel Brian Raum will be available for media interviews Tuesday following his arguments before New York’s highest court in Lewis v. New York State Department of Civil Service and Godfrey v. Spano.  ADF attorneys appealed both lawsuits, arguing that state and local officials have attempted to recognize out-of-state same-sex “marriages,” contrary to state law.

“Under New York law, marriage is not just any two people in a committed relationship. There’s more to a marriage than that. State and local officials should not attempt to use the marriage laws from foreign jurisdictions to redefine marriage in New York,” said Raum. “Clearly, these officials have overstepped their authority in their attempts to place the political agendas of certain groups ahead of the law.”

ADF attorneys are arguing in Lewis v. New York State Department of Civil Service that the department illegally redefined the term “spouse” in order to extend marriage benefits to members of the same sex who obtained “marriage” licenses from other states, countries, or jurisdictions. On behalf of New York taxpayers, ADF attorneys filed the suit in May 2007, contending that the directive illegally replaces state law with laws from foreign jurisdictions at the expense of taxpayers and families who have not consented to it.

In Godfrey v. Spano, ADF attorneys argue that Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano exceeded his constitutional authority when he ordered county agencies to recognize out-of-state same-sex “marriages.”

ADF attorneys filed appeals in the two lawsuits in Feb. 2009, and the New York Court of Appeals agreed in March to hear both suits. ADF-allied attorney Jim Trainor is serving as local counsel in the Lewis v. New York State Department of Civil Service suit.