Supreme Court Order in Baker v. Nelson
10/10/1972
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This ruling 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, which affirmed the lower court's decision.
On October 10, 1972, Baker and McConnell appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. As shown here, the Court denied their claim in its one-sentence order. It stated "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, which affirmed the lower court's decision.
On October 10, 1972, Baker and McConnell appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. As shown here, the Court denied their claim in its one-sentence order. It stated "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: Supreme Court Order in Baker v. Nelson; 10/10/1972; 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/supreme-court-order-baker-v-nelson, January 18, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
