Hearing for Appeal Set for Aug. 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 16, 2009
CONTACT:
Brandon Hensler, Director of Communications, (786) 363-2737 or media@aclufl.org
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the ACLU’s national LGBT Project today announced that all of the briefs filed in the ACLU’s lawsuit to overturn Florida’s ban on gay adoption have been made public. The court approved the release of the previously sealed documents in response to a motion by Miami attorney Timothy H. Crutchfield on behalf of Wire Magazine seeking public access to the briefs because it is a case of public importance.
In addition to briefs filed by the ACLU, the children and the State, the court’s order makes public seven friend-of-the-court briefs filed by many respected Florida and national children’s health, welfare and legal advocacy groups urging the court to strike down the ban. Copies of the briefs (with the names of family members removed) are available at www.aclu.org/Gill and www.aclufl.org/Gill
“These briefs by so many prominent children’s health and advocacy organizations powerfully make the case that Florida’s ban on adoption by gay people unnecessarily prevents some children from ever knowing the love and support of a permanent family,” said Robert Rosenwald, Director of the ACLU of Florida’s LGBT Advocacy Project.
The ACLU also announced the date and time of upcoming oral arguments, to be held in the Third District Court of Appeals on Wednesday, August 26 at 9:30 a.m. The hearing will be open to members of the media.
WHAT: Appeals Court Hearing in ACLU’s Gill Adoption Case
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. – Wednesday, August 26, 2009
WHERE: FIU College of Law, University Park Campus
Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall, Room 1000
11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199
WHO: ACLU & ACLU of Florida LGBT Project Attorneys
For background information on the ACLU’s lawsuit, please visit www.aclufl.org/gill
About the ACLU of Florida’s LGBT Advocacy Project
The ACLU of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org.
The ACLU of Florida’s LGBT Advocacy Project has worked since 2005 to protect the legal rights of Florida’s LGBT community and is the leading organization protecting gay kids from discrimination and harassment. For additional information, visit our web site at: www.aclufl.org/lgbt
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