CHICAGO - Friday, Thomas More Society's motion before Judge Sophia Hall in Cook County Chancery Court, to add three additional county clerks as interveners was granted in order to defend the lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Lambda Legal in an attempt to declare the Illinois law that limits marriage to one man and one woman void and as a violation of the Illinois Constitution of 1970.
The three Clerks that will now also intervene include Daniel Kuhn, Putnam County Clerk, Patricia Lycan, Crawford County Clerk, and Brenda Britton, Clay County Clerk. These three elected county officials joined the Tazewell and Effingham County Clerks who were allowed to intervene to defend Illinois' Defense of Marriage Act after Cook County Clerk David Orr, who was named as a defended, said he agreed with the plaintiffs' claims and would not defend the lawsuit. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan also declined to defend the suit, as did Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.
"This lawsuit, while ostensibly targeted only at Cook County, will have an obvious impact on the status of marriage all over the State of Illinois. It is vital that these officials from other Illinois counties also have the right to be heard and be permitted to intervene in the lawsuit," said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society. "These new clients want to be sure that the true meaning of marriage, as defined by Illinois' General Assembly and that commanded vigorous support from people all over the State of Illinois, has the benefit of a full and robust defense."
On the other hand, the ACLU was pleased that the court denied three groups participation in the lawsuit. Illinois Family Institute, Church of Christian Liberty and Grace-Gospel Fellowship church argued that they had a vested interest in the cases filed by Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.
Windy City Times reports "IFI had said its interest rested in the fact that it had dedicated significant resources and energy to fighting same-sex marriage in the state. The churches said that overturning the ban would force them to perform same-sex marriages because the Illinois Human Rights Act mandates equal access to public accommodations."
