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The Supreme Court just gave Brian Brown and NOM something to cry about.
According to Think Progress, the National Organization for Marriage continued its losing streak in front of the courts with a huge loss at the U.S. Supreme Court:
The Supreme Court has decided not to hear the National Organization for Marriage’s challenge to Maine’s campaign finance laws:
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a constitutional challenge to a Maine law that requires those seeking to raise and spend money in state election campaigns to organize as a political action committee for that activity, and make significant disclosures about their financial operations. That was challenged in a petition, National Organization for Marriage v. McKee (11-599), after the state law was upheld by the First Circuit Court.
Though this may be perceived as a non-event, it represents a huge defeat for the anti-gay organization’s secrecy and as well as its self-victimizing claims that supporters of “traditional marriage” are persecuted for their beliefs. NOM was one of the top fundraisers supporting Maine’s Question 1 in 2009, a people’s veto of marriage equality legislation that ended up passing. For three years, NOM has used this lawsuit to keep the sources of its funding hidden, but now the organization has no other avenues to appeal, having lost every step of the way.
Just in time for the 2012 marriage equality fights. How very fitting.
5 Comments
I predict that NOM will just continue to ignore campaign finance and disclosure laws, just like they always have done. They overreached in their desire to have the courts put their stamp of approval on such behavior. But it’s equally clear that law enforcement officials almost never do anything to those who break such laws.
If NOM is sued to identify their funding sources, then they will have to do it. Law enforcement may not care, but citizens groups do. I look forward to learning who is funding NOM–I predict it is largely one or two persons.
This better mean that they’ll be arrested for contempt of court now.
they should be cited for contempt and punished for it, definitely
whether they will be? hard to say. many judges are elected. and therefore would fear being perceived as “anti-Christian”
I can’t see the point in a court ordering NOM to disclose it’s donor base if it refuses to comply after losing an appeal. Makes no sense. Others would be hit with a fine and or jail or both. Why not NOM? If NOM ends up being sued, who is going to do it I wonder? Lambda Legal Defense, HRC, Equality Maine?