A lesbian couple has asked the
Wisconsin Supreme Court to strike down the state's ban on gay
marriage.
Katherine and Linda Halopka-Ivery of
Milwaukee County said in their lawsuit, filed Wednesday, that the
Supreme Court should directly review the case because it involves an
issue of great public interest.
Wisconsin currently recognizes gay and
lesbian couples with a domestic partnership registry, which offers a
limited number of protections.
The registry is being challenged in a
separate case. Opponents argue that it violates the state's 2006
voter-approved constitutional amendment banning marriage and anything
substantially similar to it for gay couples.
Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van
Hollen, who is currently defending the ban in a
separate federal lawsuit set to go to trial in August, vowed to
continue his defense in Wednesday's lawsuit.
“As attorney general, I have
defended, and will continue to defend, the laws and the Constitution
of the State of Wisconsin. That's my job,” he said.
The Halopka-Iverys, who married in
California, could face criminal charges under the state's law, which
prohibits gay couples from obtaining an out-of-state marriage.
(Read
the complaint provided by Equality
Case Files.)