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Amici Brief of Concerned Maine Attorneys and Leaders

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Amici Brief of Concerned Maine Attorneys and Leaders MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT SITTING AS THE LAW COURT LAW DOCKET NO.: KEN-14-456 ELIZABETH KINNEY, Plaintiff-Appellee v. TANYA J. BUSCH, Defendant-Appellant ON REPORT FROM THE KENNEBEC DISTRICT COURT AMICI BRIEF OF CONCERNED MAINE ATTORNEYS AND LEADERS Michael P. Asen Diane Dusini MittelAsen, LLC P.O. Box 427 85 Exchange Street Portland, ME 04112-0427 (207) 775-3101 Brenda M. Buchanan Warren, Currier & Buchanan, LLC 57 Exchange Street Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 772-1262 LIST OF AMICI LIST OF CONCERNED MAINE ATTORNEYS and LEADERS David Abramson, Esq., Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Kenneth Altshuler, Esq., Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Diplomate, American College of Family Trial Attorneys Judith W. Andrucki, Esq. Michael P. Asen, Esq., Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers David Backer, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Hon. John E. Baldacci Susan S. Bixby, Esq. L. Clinton Boothby, Esq. Brenda Buchanan, Esq. Jane Clayton, Esq. Peter J. DeTroy, Esq. Jonathan Dunitz, Esq. Diane Dusini, Esq. Amy Faircloth, Esq. Martha Greene, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Elizabeth High, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Susan Hunter, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Neil Jamieson, Esq., Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Jeffrey W. Jones, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Kurt Klebe, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Margaret C. Lavoie, Esq. Richard LeBlanc, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Gene Libby, Esq. Karen Lovell, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Dennis Mahar, Esq. Robert E. Mittel, Esq. Patricia Peard, Esq. Dawn M. Pelletier, Esq. Judy Potter, Esq. Victoria Powers, Esq. Dana Prescott, Esq., Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Elizabeth Scheffee, Esq., Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Deirdre M. Smith, Esq. Professor of Law and Director of the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic, University of Maine School of Law Mary Toole, Esq. Daniel E. Wathen, Esq. Barbara Wheaton, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Karen Frink Wolf, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers Jennifer B. Wriggins, Esq. Associate Dean for Research and Sumner T. Bernstein Professor of Law, University of Maine School of Law James H. Young, II, Esq., Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Barry Zimmerman, Esq. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF AMICI ......................................................................................................... i TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ..................................................................................... v STATEMENT OF INTEREST OF AMICI .............................................................. 1 STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE ................................................................................ 2 SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ................................................................................. 2 ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 3 I. This Court should accept the District Court's report ............................ 5 II. The intent of section 650-B was to achieve marriage equality ''for all purposes.'' ................................................................................. 6 III. Unintended and detrimental consequences will result if the Court creates a two-tiered marriage system ....................................... 11 A. Divorce ..................................................................................... 11 1. disposition of marital assets ........................................... 11 2. spousal support ............................................................... 12 3. parental rights and obligations ....................................... 13 4. child support ................................................................... 14 B. Probate ...................................................................................... 15 1. elective share .................................................................. 15 2. omitted spouse share ...................................................... 16 C. Public benefits .......................................................................... 17 1. pensions .......................................................................... 17 (W47963375} 2. social security and veterans benefits .............................. 18 D. Taxes ......................................................................................... 19 1. income taxes ................................................................... 19 2. estate taxes ..................................................................... 22 3. real estate taxes .............................................................. 23 E. Marital Privilege ....................................................................... 24 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 24 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................................................................ 26 ADDENDUM Tab Correspondence from Director of Elections to Michael J. Gray, dated August 5, 2011, with draft of "An Act To Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom" ................................ 1 Press Release from Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition re Freedom to Marry Legislation Clears Procedural Hurdle on Way to the Ballot, dated March 14, 2012 ...................................................................................... 2 Proposed Citizens Initiative: "An Act To Allow Marriage Licenses for Same Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom", Submitted June 30, 2011 .................................................................................................. 3 An Act To Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom, L.B. 3 - L.D. 1860, Public Approval November 6, 2012, Effective Date December 29, 2012 ................................. 4 lV TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CASES Pitts v. Moore, 2014 ME 59, 90 A.3d 1169 ........................................................................... 13 Stitham v. Henderson, 2001 ME 52, 768 A.2d 598 ........................................................................... 13 Stotler v. Wood, 687 A.2d 636 (Me. 1996) .............................................................................. 17 United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S._, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013) ......................................... 20, 21, 22, 23 STATUTES, RULES AND REGULATIONS 18-A M.R.S. § 2-201 ............................................................................................... 15 18-A M.R.S. § 2-202 ............................................................................................... 15 18-A M.R.S. § 2-301 ............................................................................................... 16 19-A M.R.S. § 1653 .......................................................................................... 13, 14 19-A M.R.S.A. § 650 (repealed) ............................................................................... 3 19-A M.R.S. § 650-A ................................................................................................ 7 19-A M.R.S. § 650-B ....................................................................................... passim 19-A M.R.S. § 95l-A(2)(A)(1) ............................................................................... 12 19-A M.R.S. § 953( 1) .............................................................................................. 11 19-A M.R.S. § 953(2) .............................................................................................. 11 19-A M.R.S. §§ 1651 et seq . ................................................................................... 14 36 M.R.S. § 4062(1-B) ............................................................................................ 22 36 M.R.S. § 4062(2-B) ............................................................................................ 22 (W4796337.5) 36 M.R.S. § 4063 ..................................................................................................... 22 36 M.R.S. § 4064 ..................................................................................................... 22 36 M.R.S. § 4641-A ................................................................................................ 23 36 M.R.S. § 4641-C(4) ............................................................................................ 23 36 M.R.S. § 5121 ..................................................................................................... 21 M.R. App. P. 9( a)( 1) .................................................................................................. 1 M.R. Evid. 302 ........................................................................................................ 13 M.R. Evid. 504(a) .................................................................................................... 24 10C.F.R.§1408(d)(2) ............................................................................................. 19 38 C.F.R. § 3.54 (a) (1) ..........................................................................................
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