Linda Coberly Featured on Chicago Tonight Program

Linda Coberly, a partner in Winston & Strawn's Chicago office and one of the leaders of the firm's appellate & critical motions practice, was a guest on the June 26, 2013 broadcast of Chicago Tonight to discuss the Supreme Court's most recent rulings.

On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court handed two victories to same-sex marriage supporters. The Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), ruling that the federal government must recognize legally married same-sex couples. The Court also ordered an appeal in another case dismissed for lock of standing – a ruling that left in force a lower court ruling striking down California Proposition 8, which had made same-sex marriage illegal in that state.

When asked, "Is this DOMA case going to be the first line in any epitaph of Justice Kennedy?" Coberly responded, "I'm not sure it will be the first line, because this is not the first time Justice Kennedy has been the critical fulcrum vote. There was a time when he and Justice O'Connor shared that distinction; they were the two justices that every litigant wanted to get on their side. With Justice O'Connor's retirement, Justice Kennedy serves that role.... Certainly this would be in the first paragraph."