Appeal: 14-2225

Doc: 27

Filed: 12/23/2014

Pg: 1 of 6

Nos. 14-2225(L), 14-2228, 14-2230, 14-2278, & 14-2279

In the United States Court of Appeals

for the Fourth Circuit
GENERAL SYNOD OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, et al.,
Plaintiff-Appellees,
v.
THOM TILLIS, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives;
PHIL BERGER, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
Movants-Appellants,
and
DREW REISINGER, Register of Deeds for Buncombe County, et al.,
Defendants,
and
ROY COOPER, Attorney General of North Carolina et al.,
Intervenor.
On Appeal from the United States District Court
Western District of North Carolina
The Honorable Judge Max O. Cogburn
United States District Court Judge
Case No. 3:14-cv-213

Appeal: 14-2225

Doc: 27

Filed: 12/23/2014

Pg: 2 of 6

MARCIE FISHER-BORNE et al.,

Plaintiff-Appellees,
v.
THOM TILLIS, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives;
PHIL BERGER, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
Intervenors/Defendants-Appellants,
and
JOHN W. SMITH et al.,
Defendants,
and
ROY COOPER, appearing in a Representative capacity on behalf of the State
of North Carolina
Intervenor.
On Appeal from the United States District Court
Middle District of North Carolina
The Honorable Judge William L. Osteen
United States District Court Judge
Case No. 1:12-cv-00589
ELLEN W. GERBER et al.,
Plaintiff-Appellees,
v.
THOM TILLIS, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives;
PHIL BERGER, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate

Appeal: 14-2225

Doc: 27

Filed: 12/23/2014

Pg: 3 of 6

Intervenors/DefendantsAppellants,
and
JEFF THIGPEN, Register of Deeds for Guilford County, et al.,
Defendants,
and
ROY COOPER, appearing in a Representative capacity on behalf of the
State of North Carolina
Intervenor.
On Appeal from the United States District Court
Middle District of North Carolina
The Honorable Judge William L. Osteen
United States District Court Judge
Case No. 1:14-cv-00299
RESPONSE OF APPELLEES IN CASE 14-2225
TO APPELLANTS MOTION TO STAY

Appeal: 14-2225

Doc: 27

Filed: 12/23/2014

Pg: 4 of 6

The Courts opinion in Bostic v. Schaefer, 760 F.3d 352 (4th Cir. 2014)
unambiguously compels affirmance of the decision below from the Western
District of North Carolina that North Carolinas prohibition of same sex marriage
violates Appellees constitutional rights. The Supreme Court previously denied
review of Bostic. See Schaefer v. Bostic, 135 S. Ct. 308 (2014); Rainey v. Bostic,
135 S. Ct. 286 (2014); McQuigg v. Bostic, 135 S. Ct. 314 (2014). Only this Court
sitting en banc can overturn the Bostic panels decision. See Mentavlos v.
Anderson, 249 F.3d 301, 312 n.4 (4th Cir. 2011). Appellants have not sought
hearing en banc.
To the extent Appellants wish to bring their appeal to the United States
Supreme Court, they should simply acknowledge that Bostic is controlling in this
Circuit and stipulate to a summary entry of judgment under Rule 36 of the Federal
Rules of Appellate Procedure. Appellants could then file their petition for
certiorari.
In the absence of such an acknowledgement and stipulation, however,
Appellees wish to avoid burdening the parties or this Court pending resolution of
any Supreme Court proceedings. Accordingly, Appellees propose extending the
briefing schedule for sixty (60) days to allow the parties and the Court to assess the
impact of any anticipated Supreme Court proceedings on this appeal.

Appeal: 14-2225

Doc: 27

Filed: 12/23/2014

Pg: 5 of 6

Dated: December 23, 2014

Respectfully submitted,

Jonathan S. Martel
Matthew Blake Huffman
Arnold & Porter LLP
555 Twelfth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004
Phone: (202) 942-5470
Fax: (202) 942-5999
Email: jonathan.martel@aporter.com

/s/ S. Luke Largess

S. Luke Largess
/s/ Jacob H. Sussman
Jacob Sussman
/s/ John W. Gresham
John W. Gresham
Tin Fulton Walker & Owen
301 East Park Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: (704) 338-1220
Fax: (704) 338-1312
Email: llargess@tinfulton.com
Email: jsussman@tinfulton.com
Email: jgresham@tinfulton.com

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES

Appeal: 14-2225

Doc: 27

Filed: 12/23/2014

Pg: 6 of 6

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that I electronically filed the foregoing pleading with the
Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system, which will send notification of such
filing to all counsel of record.
Dated: December 23, 2014
/s/ S. Luke Largess
S. Luke Largess
Tin Fulton Walker & Owen
301 East Park Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: (704) 338-1220
Fax: (704) 338-1312
Email: llargess@tinfulton.com