Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court have been set for next month in the case that could bring marriage equality nationwide, and court filings in support have been pouring in — including a number that include local supporters.
Dozens of friend-of-the-court briefs were submitted March 6 urging SCOTUS to rule in favor of marriage equality.
Among the briefs was one by about 400 businesses and corporations. That filing was written by Philadelphia-based firm Morgan Lewis and Bockius and included local signatories Independence Business Alliance, the region’s LGBT chamber of commerce; Philadelphia’s Pepper Hamilton law firm, Aramark and Jazz Pharmaceuticals; and Allenton’s Air Products and Chemicals.
About 300 conservative leaders submitted a brief, which was signed by former Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. About 200 Democratic members of Congress also filed a brief, which included U.S. Sen. Bob Casey from Pennsylvania, as well as Pennsylvania Congressmembers Brendan Boyle, Bob Brady, Matt Cartwright, Michael Doyle and Chaka Fattah.
A coalition of 17 states submitted a filing, which included Pennsylvania, signed by Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
Another was submitted by 226 mayors and several-dozen cities.
Philadelphia was among the cities, as were Emsworth and Lancaster in Pennsylvania and Irvington and Princeton in New Jersey.
Mayor Michael Nutter signed on, as did 15 other Pennsylvania mayors: David Burton (Malvern), Carolyn Comitta (West Chester), Frederick Courtright (Mount Pocono), Elizabeth Goreham (State College), J. Richard Gray (Lancaster), Christopher Kelly (West Mifflin), Eric Papenfuse (Harrisburg), Ed Pawlowski (Allenton), William Peduto (Pittsburgh), David Rivella (Morrisville), Timothy Scott (Carlisle), Ronald Silvis (Greensburg), Jeanne Sorg (Ambler), Vaughn Spencer (Reading) and Pennsylvania’s first openly gay mayor, Ron Strouse (Doylestown).
Fifteen New Jersey mayors also signed on: John Birkner (Westwood), Edward Brennan (Merchantville), Victor De Luca (Maplewood), Jon Dunleavy (Bloomingdale), Steven Fulop (Jersey City), Bruce Harris (Chatham), Jamel Holley (Roselle), Janice Kovach (Clinton), Liz Lempert (Princeton), M. James Maley, Jr. (Collingswood), Pasquale Menna (Red Bank), Michael Mignona (Voorhees), Robert Parisi (West Orange), Alex Torpey (South Orange) and Dawn Zimmer (Hoboken).
SCOTUS will hear arguments April 28 and is expected to rule by the end of June.