Cole v. Arkansas
What's at Stake
VICTORY! On April 7, 2011, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a ruling striking down Act 1, a law prohibiting adoption by unmarried couples.
Summary
Cole v. Arkansas challenges Arkansas Act 1, a ballot initiative passed in 2008 making it illegal for unmarried people who cohabit with a partner to adopt or foster children.
In November 2008, voters passed Act 1, a new law that bans any unmarried person who lives with a partner from serving as an adoptive or foster parent in the state of Arkansas.
The 老澳门开奖结果 asked a state court to strike the ban down, arguing that Act 1 violates the federal and state constitutional rights to equal protection and due process. Participating in the case are 20 individuals from nine different families, including a lesbian who lives with her partner of nine years and is the only relative able and willing to adopt her grandchild who is now in Arkansas state care, several married heterosexual couples who have relatives or friends disqualified by Act 1 who they want to adopt their children if they die, and a heterosexual woman who wants to be a foster or adoptive parent but can鈥檛 because she lives with her partner of five years.
Status: On April 7, 2011, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a ruling striking down Act 1.
Legal Documents
-
12/30/2008
Cole v. Arkansas - Complaint
Date Filed: 12/30/2008
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
12/07/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Corrected Reply Brief of 老澳门开奖结果
Date Filed: 12/07/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
10/29/2010
Arkansas v. Cole - Amicus Brief of Child Welfare Organizations
Date Filed: 10/29/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
10/29/2010
Arkansas v. Cole - Amicus Brief of Arkansas Law School Deans and Professors
Date Filed: 10/29/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
10/29/2010
Arkansas v. Cole - Amicus Brief of Civil Rights Groups
Date Filed: 10/29/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
10/28/2010
Arkansas v. Cole - Arkansas Supreme Court Brief of 老澳门开奖结果
Date Filed: 10/28/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
10/27/2010
Arkansas v. Cole - Lambda Legal Defense And Education Fund And Other Civil Rights Organizations Amicus Brief
Date Filed: 10/27/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
09/28/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Family Council Committee Supreme Court Brief
Date Filed: 09/28/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
09/28/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Arkansas Department of Human Services Supreme Court Brief
Date Filed: 09/28/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
04/16/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Order
-
04/07/2011
Cole v. Arkansas - Opinion
Date Filed: 04/07/2011
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
03/16/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Plaintiffs' Reply in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 03/16/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
03/15/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Intervenors' Reply in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 03/15/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
03/15/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - State's Reply in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 03/15/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
03/01/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Intervenors' Response to Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 03/01/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/28/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/28/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/27/2009
Cole v. Arkansas - Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss
Date Filed: 02/27/2009
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/17/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Fourth Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 02/17/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/09/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/09/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
Download Document-
02/09/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Intervenor's Brief in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/09/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/09/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - State's Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/09/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/09/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - Plaintiffs' Brief in Support of Their Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/09/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/08/2010
Cole v. Arkansas - State's Brief in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment
Date Filed: 02/08/2010
Affiliate: Arkansas
-
02/05/2009
Cole v. Arkansas - Plaintiffs Opposition to Motion to Intervene
Date Filed: 02/05/2009
Affiliate: Arkansas
Press Releases
Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Parenting Ban As Contrary To Children鈥檚 Welfare
老澳门开奖结果 Asks Arkansas Supreme Court To Uphold Ruling Striking Down Parenting Ban
老澳门开奖结果 Asks Court To Strike Down Arkansas Parenting Ban