Former State Supreme Court Justice To Assist In Defense Of PA's Marriage Law
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The Corbett administration has hired a Chester County lawyer who served on the state Supreme Court to handle the federal litigation over same sex marriage in Pennsylvania.
Nils Frederiksen, spokesman for the governor's legal team, says with a constitutional argument ahead in the federal case against Pennsylvania's marriage law, it is helpful to have a former state Supreme Court justice such as William Lamb on the case.
"The decision was made that with the retention of justice Lamb, with his background and his detailed experience, would assist the Commonwealth in providing the best possible legal representation in this case."
The federal lawsuit against Pennsylvania's ban on same sex marriage is one of two legal cases pending on the issue. That case in its early stages, with the Commonwealth's official response to the initial filing only due later this month.
Meanwhile, a state court judge is mulling his decision on the state's suit to stop Montgomery County from issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.
