Obergefell v. Hodges
576 U.S. 644 (2015)
📄 Read the Actual Opinion
U.S. Reports opinion (PDF) →📋 Summary of the Opinion
James Obergefell and other same-sex couples challenged state bans on same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that the 14th Amendment’s Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses guarantee the fundamental right to marry for same-sex couples.
⚖️ Why It Mattered
The decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, making marriage equality the law of the land.
✅ What It Provided or Took Away
✅ Provided:
A constitutional right to marry regardless of gender.
❌ Took Away:
States’ ability to ban or refuse to recognize same-sex marriages.
🤔 Overreach or Proper Role?
Critics said it was judicial activism, creating rights not in the Constitution. Supporters argued it was a necessary enforcement of equality and liberty under the 14th Amendment.
💡 Plain-English Impact Today
Same-sex couples have the same marriage rights as opposite-sex couples in every state. States must issue marriage licenses and recognize marriages equally.