Amicus Briefs
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Through its litigation initiatives, Legal Momentum has made historic and enduring contributions to the rights and opportunities available to women. This is often accomplished through participation in cases as amicus curiae ("friend of the court"). Amici are groups or individuals who are not parties to the case but have particular expertise in the issues at its heart. They bring their expertise to the court in the form of an amicus brief to inform the court’s deliberations. Each year Legal Momentum writes and joins numerous amicus briefs in cases dealing with issues central to our mission.
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Fairness in the CourtsLGBTQ+ RightsJoined Amicus Brief: Determined whether denying same-sex couples the right to marry violated Vermont's marriage statutes and/or Vermont's Common Benefits Clause.
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsAuthored Amicus Brief: Determined whether a judge in a rape case should instruct the jury that the defendant made a reasonable mistake as to whether or not the victim had, in fact, consented to sexual contact.
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsVAWA Civil Rights RemedyAuthored Amicus Brief: Addressed the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act civil rights remedy.
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsVAWA Civil Rights RemedyAuthored Amicus Brief: Addressed the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act civil rights remedy. The decision was overruled, in part, by the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Morrison.
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Fairness in the CourtsLGBTQ+ Rights | Parental RightsJoined Amicus Brief: Determined the right of a non-biological lesbian mother in Tennessee to visitation with children she raised with her former partner.
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsVAWA Civil Rights RemedyAuthored Amicus Brief: Determined the right to sue under VAWA's civil rights remedy for nonphysical violence (e.g. threats and harassment).
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsVAWA Civil Rights RemedyAuthored Amicus Brief: Determined the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act's civil rights remedy.
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Fairness in the Courts | Workplace Equality and Economic EmpowermentJoined Amicus Brief: Determined whether an employee who suffered sexual harassment by a supervisor can recover damages against her employer under Title VII.
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsVAWA Civil Rights RemedyAuthored Amicus Brief: Concerned the right of an abuse victim to tort remedies under the civil rights remedy provision of VAWA.
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Fairness in the Courts | Violence Against Women and GirlsAuthored Amicus Brief: Determined the right to sue a parish priest and diocese for sexual misconduct and demand civil remedies under VAWA.