Opinion of the Minnesota Supreme Court in Baker v. Nelson
1/12/1972
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This document comes from the earliest same-sex marriage case to be reviewed by the Supreme Court: Baker v. Nelson in 1972.
On May 18, 1970, University of Minnesota students Richard Baker and James Michael McConnell submitted an application for a marriage license in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The District Court Clerk of Hennepin County, Gerald Nelson, denied the couple's application because they were both men.
In response, Baker and McConnell sued the county office for discrimination in Minnesota District Court. The court dismissed the couple's claims and ordered the clerk not to issue the license.
Baker and McConnell appealed the district court's decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court. This document is the Minnesota Supreme Court's judgment, affirming the lower court's decision. The opinion states that the Minnesota law prohibiting "marriage of persons of the same sex does not offend the First, Eight, Ninth, or Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. ...and that such marriages are accordingly prohibited."
On October 10, 1972, Baker and McConnell appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It denied their claim, stating "The appeal is dismissed for want of a substantial federal question," meaning the Court decided the issue did not directly relate to Federal laws.
On May 18, 1970, University of Minnesota students Richard Baker and James Michael McConnell submitted an application for a marriage license in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The District Court Clerk of Hennepin County, Gerald Nelson, denied the couple's application because they were both men.
In response, Baker and McConnell sued the county office for discrimination in Minnesota District Court. The court dismissed the couple's claims and ordered the clerk not to issue the license.
Baker and McConnell appealed the district court's decision to the Minnesota Supreme Court. This document is the Minnesota Supreme Court's judgment, affirming the lower court's decision. The opinion states that the Minnesota law prohibiting "marriage of persons of the same sex does not offend the First, Eight, Ninth, or Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. ...and that such marriages are accordingly prohibited."
On October 10, 1972, Baker and McConnell appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It denied their claim, stating "The appeal is dismissed for want of a substantial federal question," meaning the Court decided the issue did not directly relate to Federal laws.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Supreme Court of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 26318353
Full Citation: Transcript of Judgment from the Minnesota Supreme Court in Baker v. Nelson; 1/12/1972; Baker v. Nelson, Case # 71-1027; Appellate Jurisdiction Case Files, 1792 - 2010; Records of the Supreme Court of the United States, Record Group 267; National Archives at Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/mn-supreme-court-baker-v-nelson, March 20, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
