State Historical Society of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Case Varnum v. Brien, April 3, 2009

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Courtesy of CaseLaw, "Varnum v. Brien," Iowa Supreme Court, 3 April 2009

Description

Varnum v. Brien was a 2009 Iowa Supreme Court case in which the Court unanimously agreed that the state's limitation of marriage to opposite-sex couples violated the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. The case made same-sex marriage legal in Iowa.

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  • Why was Varnum v. Brien such an important decision for the state of Iowa?
  • How did Varnum v. Brien guarantee human rights?

Citation Information 

"Varnum v. Brien," Iowa Supreme Court, 3 April 2009. Courtesy of CaseLaw