In a move that could have far-reaching implications Illinois' legal community, the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) has announced its support for marriage equality.
The association announced Oct. 24 that it adopted a resolution supporting marriage equality at a September 25 board of managers meeting.
"The CBA sees this issue as a simple one," said CBA President Aurora Abella-Austriaco, in a press statement. "The policy statement is just one line, 'The Chicago Bar Association supports marriage equality for same-sex couples.'"
According to David Amen, chair of the CBA LGBT Committee, the move is significant.
"Any court case that was to come up… the CBA can now support a position because we have this," said Amen.
Amen said the decision to endorse marriage equality was motivated by a desire to file a brief in support of the Lambda Legal and American Civil Liberties Union lawsuits that seek marriage equality in the state. Amen said that without the policy, CBA would have been unable to file the brief.
The new policy will also be applied to legislative efforts to achieve same-sex marriage in Illinois, said Amen. The board of managers voted Oct. 24 to back current efforts by State Rep. Greg Harris to pass a marriage equality bill, according to Amen.
The new policy was approved unanimously with one abstention, said Amen.
CBA represents 22,000 lawyers and judges, according to its website.