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August 3, 2007

Even Though Void or Because Void?

Justin Katz

A quick online search didn't lead to the actual documents, but based on the Providence Journal story about the various legal briefs filed in the case of Rhode Island's granting a same-sex divorce, it appears that just about everybody argued predictably, mainly based on broader perspectives than the narrow question facing the court. The one exception comes from the governor:

Carcieri's brief — signed by Indiana lawyer James Bopp Jr. and local lawyer Joseph S. Larisa Jr., former Republican Gov. Lincoln C. Almond's chief of staff — noted state law says divorces can be granted even when marriages are "void or voidable by law."

"The Family Court can thus proceed with the divorce petition without a response from this court addressing the legality or the validity of the marriage," the brief said. "Indeed, because of the significance of this issue and the lack of necessity for this court to consider it, the policy of the State of Rhode Island on the issue of same-sex marriage is most properly left to the people to establish through referendum or, at minimum, through the legislative process."

Matching the quoted language suggests that the following is the relevant statute (emphasis added):

Marriages void or voidable — Civil death or presumption of death. — Divorces from the bond of marriage shall be decreed in case of any marriage originally void or voidable by law, and in case either party is for crime deemed to be or treated as if civilly dead, or, from absence or other circumstances, may be presumed to be actually dead.

Contra Carcieri et al., this language appears to indicate a "because," not an "even if" — with which I agree, and for which I would welcome the legal consequences. If the court grants the divorce using this law, it seems to me that it would, in effect, be doing so on the grounds that the marriage is void anyway. That would represent a definitive statement that Rhode Island's public policy does not permit same-sex marriage.

Comments

Void.

No marriage existed.

Conditions may have been created, however, by the people seeking divorce that now might need to be addressed as a result of their having posed as married.

Yet, how could they have so posed if obviously the combo is same-sexed?

The "void-ness" was not disguised by their pose.

So ... void and no divorce.

Posted by: Chairm at August 3, 2007 6:54 PM

I sympathize with the argument, Chairm, but it doesn't appear to apply explicitly to Rhode Island law, which is my concern, here. Our strongest ally, in opposing the degenderization of marriage, is the law, and we ought therefore to acknowledge it as it exists.

Posted by: Justin Katz at August 3, 2007 8:00 PM

I don't have details on these briefs, however in the article the ACLU proposed that the two women sought the "means to end their marital rights and obligations".

A void marriage has no such rights and obligations, except where conditions have been formed based on, for example, a bigamist defrauding a spouse. Or a wife remarrying after being mistakenly presumed a widow upon the disappearance of her husband.

Maybe Carcieri's brief concedes that it is possible that somesuch conditions have been created in this particular case.

If so, it could make sense that the court clarify, by acknowledging that this union is void in Rhode Island, and, then, leaving the way open to divorce-like attention on a case-by-case basis.

What entanglements in Rhode Island could they claim are dependant on that Massachusetts license? Not much, if anything.

Maybe they will argue against Carcieri's brief and we'll know the conditions that have been created that might merit a divorce-like role for the court.

Posted by: Chairmohn@yahoo.it at August 3, 2007 10:52 PM

Is there a residency requirement to access the divorce courts in Massachusetts?

Posted by: Chairm at August 4, 2007 8:20 PM