Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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No. 14-3251
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
__________________________________
BRIEF OF APPELLANT
Oral Argument Requested
Margie J. Phelps
P.O. Box 3725
Topeka, KS 66604
785.408.4598 (phone)
785.233.0766 (fax)
margie.phelps@cox.net
Attorney for Movant to Intervene/Appellant
Westboro Baptist Church, Inc.
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ii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY OF THE CASE .............................................................................................. I
CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT .................................................................. II
TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................. III
TABLE OF CASES & AUTHORITIES ........................................................................... IV
Related appeals ........................................................................................................................................................iv
iii
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Related appeals
Marie v. Moser, Appeal No. 14-3246 (appeal by state and county defendants from
order granting preliminary injunction)
Marie v. Moser, Appeal No. 14-3250 (appeal by Mr. and Mrs. Unruh from denial
of motion to intervene)
Marie v. Moser, Appeal No. 14-3276 (appeal by WBC from order denying second
intervention motion)
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BRIEF OF APPELLANT
Westboro Baptist Church, Inc. (WBC), movant to intervene below and
appellant before this Court, submits the following brief.
Jurisdictional Statement
(A)The basis for the district courts subject matter jurisdiction: 28 U.S.C.
1331, 1343 and 2201, and 42 U.S.C. 1983.
(B) The basis for jurisdiction on appeal: 28 U.S.C. 1291.
(C) The filing dates establishing the timeliness of the appeal: November 7,
2014, Memorandum and Order denying intervention; November 9, 2014,
Notice of Appeal.
(D)Statement establishing the Court of Appeals jurisdiction: This is an appeal
from an order denying intervention.
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2.
intervention.
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At the core of WBCs picketing is the Bible doctrine that a proper marriage is
between one man, one woman, for life; and it is a Scriptural symbol of the great mystery
of Christ and His Bride, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Same sex marriage rips that
symbol to shreds, and is utterly contrary to Bible doctrine.
On October 10, 2014, two same sex couples filed suit in federal court in Kansas
asking that the statutory and constitutional provisions defining a marriage as between a
man and woman be found unconstitutional; seeking declaratory and injunctive relief; and
specifically asking that the State of Kansas be required to issue marriage licenses to same
sex couples, and change the marriage licensing scheme to accommodate same sex
couples. (See Complaint dated 10/10/14, docket number 1, at Docket Sheet, Aplt. App.
at 5.)
Sixteen days later, on October 26, 2014, WBC filed a Motion to Intervene, with a
proposed Answer; and a brief in support and request for hearing. (Aplt. App., at 18-55.)
The motion was unopposed, and thus per D. Kan. Rule 7.4(b), the court will consider
and decide the motion as an uncontested motion. Ordinarily, the court will grant the
motion without further notice.
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litigation without providing any compensating benefit to the Court or the parties (Aplt.
App. at 17).
On November 9, 2014, WBC filed a Notice of Appeal (see Notice of Appeal dated
11/7/14, docket number 33, at Docket Sheet, Aplt. App. at 7). Further relevant facts will
be addressed in the arguments below.
Summary of Argument
Same sex marriage litigation is sweeping the land, and it came to Kansas.
Westboro Baptist Church, Inc. (WBC), is an independent Bible-believing church in
Topeka, Kansas, with a 25+ year street picketing and otherwise publishing ministry
that opposes sin, including very vocally opposing same sex marriage.
WBC
moved to intervene as a matter of right and permissively, sixteen days after the suit
was filed. WBC sought to assert its legal interest in protecting and preserving its
rights as a religious institution that objects to same sex marriage from being
required to participate in same sex marriage in any way; and to assert its legal
interest by virtue of its public advocacy against same sex marriage on Bible
grounds, to vigorously defend the constitutionality of the same sex marriage bans
in Kansas. The motion to intervene was unopposed by any party. The Kansas
Attorney General, who is defending the state and local officials first named in the
case (new parties have since been added; it remains to be seen who will defend
them), has never spoken a word in any filing or public statement about
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representing WBCs interests in this case. The trial court denied intervention for
the sole reason that it found that WBC did not demonstrate its interests were not
adequately represented by the Kansas Attorney General, in spite of this Courts
rule of law that by legal definition a government party cannot adequately represent
the private intervenors interest. Same sex marriage is rapidly gaining political and
popular appeal, and it is increasingly perilous for elected officials to vigorously
oppose same sex marriage. Further, the Kansas Attorney General is not in a
position to protect the religious rights of religious institutions to oppose same sex
marriage on Bible grounds, or to protect these religious institutions from claims by
plaintiffs-activists that churches and clergy should be mandated to participate in
same sex marriages. As such, the Kansas Attorney General is particularly unsuited
and unable to adequately represent WBCs interests. Same sex marriage is a
startling change in the moral landscape of this land. This Court has permitted
environmentalists to intervene as a matter of right to protect the environment.
Courts should be eager to afford the same level of legal interest to those who have
religious objection to and seek religious protection from participating in same sex
marriage. WBC seeks reversal of the order denying intervention and for this case
to be remanded so intervention can be allowed.
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Argument
Issue 1: The trial court erred in denying WBC intervention as a matter
of right.
Standard of Review: We review for an abuse of discretion a district courts
rulings on the timeliness of an application for intervention as of right, but we
review de novo a district courts rulings on the three remaining requirements under
Rule 24(a)(2), Coalition of Ariz./NM v. Dept. of Interior, 100 F.3d 837, 840 (10 th
Cir. 1996).
Where the Issue was raised in the Record: WBCs motion to intervene,
Aplt. App. at 18-43.
Contention/Reasons: The first requirement for intervention of right is (1) the
application is timely. WBC contends that there is no question of the timeliness of
its motion to intervene, given that it was filed slightly over two weeks after the
case was filed; that no party has suggested untimeliness; and the trial court did not
suggest or find untimeliness.
The other factors for intervention of right, are that (2) the applicant claims
an interest in the subject of the action; (3) the applicants interest may as a practical
matter be impaired or impeded; and (4) the applicants interest is not adequately
represented by an existing party. See United States v. Albert Investment Co., Inc.,
585 F.3d 1386, 1391 (10th Cir. 2009). The trial court found that WBC had not
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satisfied the fourth requirement, concluding that WBC had not demonstrated its
interests were not adequately represented.
This Court follows a somewhat liberal line in allowing intervention,
WildEarth Guardians, 573 F.3d at 995. And, [t]he central concern in deciding
whether intervention is proper is the practical effect of the litigation on the
applicant for intervention, ibid. To satisfy [the impairment] element of the
intervention test, a would-be intervenor must show only that impairment of its
substantial legal interest is possible if intervention is denied.
This burden is
minimal, ibid.
It is WBCs position that since the motion was unopposed, and since the trial
court found only that WBCs interests could be adequately represented by the
Kansas Attorney Generals office, that it is undisputed that WBC has a legal
interest in the case, and that WBCs legal interest in the case will be impaired
without intervention. Thus, no further discussion on those two elements should be
necessary. However, out of an abundance of caution, WBC will address those
elements in this brief, and does so without waiving its position that those issues are
not in dispute, and have been resolved on this record in WBCs favor.
WBC Has Legal Interests in the Same Sex Marriage Litigation in Kansas
Here WBC will discuss the issue of its legal interest, because although the
trial court denied intervention of right only based on its conclusion that WBC has
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not carried its burden to show that the current defendants will not represent its
interest adequately (without reaching the remaining factors), Aplt. App. at 12; this
Court is reviewing the question of intervention of right de novo; plus the trial court
later in its order addressed WBCs interest in the litigation [t]o determine whether
WBCs interests align with the existing defendants interests, Aplt. App. at 14.
The subject of the litigation is creating and granting new rights to same sex
couples, including the right to have a marriage license issued, and related benefits.
This Court addressed the very important issue of protecting those with religious
objections to same sex marriage, especially religious institutions (including
churches), when affirming a finding that Utahs ban on same sex marriage was
unconstitutional, in Kitchen v. Herbert, 755 F.3d 1193 (10th Cir. 2014). There this
Court addressed the fourth government interest Utah offered in support of
Amendment 3 limiting marriage licenses to marriages between a man and a woman,
to wit, Accommodating religious freedom and reducing the potential for civil
strife, 755 F.3d at 1226. The Court rejected this interest as a basis for upholding
the ban, but hastened to add:
We emphasize that todays decision relates solely to civil
marriage [and] does not mandate any change for religious
institutions, which may continue to express their own moral
viewpoints and define their own traditions about marriage.
[R]eligious institutions remain as free as they always have been
to practice their sacraments and traditions as they see fit.
[W]e continue to recognize the right of the various religions to
define marriage according to their moral, historical, and ethical
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precepts. Our opinion does not intrude into that domain or the
exercise of religious principles in this arena. The right of an
officiant to perform or decline to perform a religious ceremony
is unaffected by todays ruling.
755 F.3d at 1227-1228; emphasis added. This Court recognized a right of religious
institutions to not be forced to participate in same sex marriage. That right was
expressly recognized in the context of a case where plaintiffs sought the right to
marriage licenses for same sex couples, as well as related benefits.1
The trial court described this right identified by this Court as WBCs
concern, which the trial court concluded was too remote and speculative to be
addressed through WBCs intervention, saying that at the point in time of its order,
there is no evidence that Kansas officials would require WBC to participate,
Aplt. App. at 14. Further, the trial court concluded, WBC could initiate a separate
lawsuit to protect its right to religious expression, ibid.
We respectfully submit thereby the trial court missed the point. It is not
state officials against whom WBC seeks to protect its right not to participate in
See, for instance, Kitchen, 755 F.3d at 1199-1200, 1226, where various other
related benefits (under the recognize their marriage umbrella), beyond the
license itself were discussed. Please note the First Amended Complaint filed in
this case (see First Amended Complaint dated 11/26/14, docket number 52, at
Docket Sheet, Aplt. App. at 9), where additional rights are asserted beyond the
marriage license, including the right to have drivers licenses changed; the right to
file joint tax returns; the right to be included on state health insurance which led
to a second motion to intervene by WBC, which denial is the topic of a related
appeal by WBC in Appeal No. 14-3276.
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Any more than it is a remedy to refer WBC to amicus status as its relief. [T]he
right to file a brief as amicus curiae is no substitute for the right to intervene as a
party in the action under Rule 24(a)(2), Coalition, 100 F.3d 837 at 844.
2
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Marriage Dooms Nation picket signs; and similar related picket signs, e.g.,
Christians Caused Fag Marriage, Soldiers Die 4 Fag Marriage, Fags Cant
Wed, etc., together with other publications beyond picketing of similar messages
including through social media, twice weekly video news releases, parodies, and
otherwise; are so ubiquitous and well known that this Court can take judicial notice
of the same. There is likely no church more notorious and high profile in the state
of Kansas or the nation for its opposition to same sex marriage.
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Second, the law does not support imposing some specific formal, official,
political or other such form of advocacy, related solely to some specific piece of
legislation or constitutional amendment, for an entity to have a legal interest.
While it is the case that in some cases an intervenor has been involved in some
manner such as through campaigning for the passage of a law, appearing in an
administrative proceeding, or even litigating over issues such as environmental
issues; the language of the cases of this Court does not support the conclusion that
such a formal method of advocacy is required for a legal interest to be found.
In Utah Association of Counties v. Clinton, 255 F.3d 1246 10 th Cir. 2001),
the trial court denied intervention by various would-be intervenors in an action by
the Utah Association of Counties to enjoin and have declared illegal the
Presidential Proclamation establishing the Grand Staircase Escalante National
Monument. Plaintiffs in that case alleged that the creation of the monument was
an illegal attempt by the Secretary of the Interior to prevent a proposed
underground coal mine. The intervenors sought leave to represent the interests
of public interest organizations and individuals whose goals include protecting the
nations public lands and assuring their continued integrity in perpetuity, 255
F.3d at 1249. The trial court denied intervention, saying the case was not about the
environment; not about property rights or interests in the monument; but was only
about the legality of the presidents action in creating the monument.
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Thus,
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apparently that trial court, like our trial court here, felt the intervenors interests
would clutter the case.
intervenor is not measured by the particular issue before the court but instead by
whether the interest of the intervenor claims is related to the subject of the action,
see 255 F.3d at 1252.
Under Rule 24(a)(2), the intervenors must claim [] an interest
relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the
action. The property that is the subject of plaintiffs lawsuit is
the monument itself. The intervenors claim they have an interest
in the continued existence of the monument and its reservation
from public entry, both on the basis of their financial stake in the
tourism the monument has created and on the basis of their
desire to further their environmental and conservationist goals by
preserving the undeveloped nature of the lands encompassed by
the monument. They point out that they were vocal and
outspoken champions and advocates for the creation of the
monument, they have regularly commented on and participated
in the governments monument land management plan, and they
regularly visit the monument for aesthetic, scientific and
recreational purposes.
255 F.3d at 1252; emphasis added.
Further, in Coalition, 100 F.3d 837, the trial court denied intervention to an
applicant in an action against the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and various government officials challenging a decision to protect
the Mexican Spotted Owl under the Endangered Species Act, alleging that the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service had failed to follow proper procedures and lacked data
sufficient to list the Owl as threatened. Dr. Robin Silver sought intervention
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because he had photographed and studied the Owl in the wild; and he was
instrumental in the Fish and Wildlife Services decision to protect the Owl under
the Act. The order denying intervention was reversed by this Court, saying that the
interest test is primarily a practical guide to disposing of lawsuits by involving as
many apparently concerned persons as is compatible with efficiency and due
process. The Court noted that Dr. Silver has been directly involved with the Owl
as a wildlife photographer, an amateur biologist, and a naturalist who has
photographed and studied the Owl in its natural environment, id. at 841. In sum,
we hold that Dr. Silvers involvement with the Owl in the wild and his persistent
record of advocacy for its protection amounts to a direct and substantial interest in
the listing of the Owl for the purpose of intervention as of right, even though Dr.
Silver has little economic interest in the Owl itself, ibid.
Certainly if environmentalists have legal interests sufficient for intervention
in cases that may impact the environment, flowing from advocacy for protecting
the environment (with or without a significant economic interest), a church of
Bible-believers has a legal interest sufficient for intervention in a case that
addresses the single most important moral issue of this generation, flowing from
25+ years of advocating for this nation, and in particular the state of Kansas where
the case arises, to follow Gods view on the moral issue for the health, welfare and
wellbeing of the citizens. Further, the same church has an interest in protecting its
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right to continue following the Bible on this matter without any risk of interference
with its ability to do so.
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cluttering the record with many more issues.) WBC is particularly vulnerable in
the protection of its right not to be required to participate in same sex marriage
ceremonies is because of its notorious and controversial often-dissenting alwaysdescribed-as-extreme and almost-always-vilified advocacy against same sex
marriage.
In Kitchen, 755 F.3d at 1229, this Court said:
Lastly, appellants express concern that a ruling in plaintiffs
favor will unnecessarily brand those who oppose same-sex
marriage as intolerant. We in no way endorse such a view and
actively discourage any such reading of todays opinion.
Although a majoritys traditional[] view [of] a particular
practice as immoral is not a sufficient reason for upholding a law
prohibiting the practice, [citation omitted], for many
individuals, religious precepts concerning intimate choices
constitute profound and deep convictions accepted as ethical
and moral principles to which they aspire and which thus
determine the course of their lives, id. at 571. Courts do not sit
in judgment of the hearts and minds of the citizenry. Our
conclusion that plaintiffs possess a fundamental right to marry
and to have their marriages recognized in no way impugns the
integrity of the good-faith beliefs of those who supported
Amendment 3.
While expressly reserving our disagreement with the Courts conclusion that
viewing same sex relationships as immoral on Bible grounds in a Christian nation
is an inadequate basis for prohibiting the same, WBC would urge the Court to
consider that this view is not the view or position of same sex marriage advocates.
To the contrary, it is utterly commonplace for these advocates (in all walks,
including among homosexual activists, in churches, in the media, in the
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entertainment industry, in the schools, etc.) to launch blistering attacks against, and
take all manner of steps to try to silence, any voice that opposes same sex
marriage.3
voice like WBCs. Every measure will be used to portray WBC as intolerant over
her refusal to participate in same sex marriage; and it is absolutely predictable that
WBC will be the first church targeted to try to strip away the right of religious
institutions not to participate.
If WBC is not allowed to intervene and protect its right to refuse to
participate in same sex marriages and related activities, that legal interest will be
impaired.
Aside from 25+ years of its members being on the streets and in the public
airwaves, hearing every form of criticism and being called every form and
type of intolerant bigot that the human heart can imagine, WBC would refer
the Court to just one brief example, in a quote in the Topeka, Kansas
newspaper of a Topeka lawyer who is vocal against WBCs position and for
same sex marriage and other pro-homosexual issues, made in the wake of the
preliminary injunction being granted by the trial court in this case, and when
in the aftermath new claims/complaints were made when those same sex
couples who were married (in and out of Kansas) were unable to promptly
get a changed drivers licenses, etc., wherein he stated: It is my hope that in
the very near future, the stain on our Kansas Constitution that was the
product of bigotry wrapped in prayer will soon be removed. Online:
http://bit.ly/1BfgR2P (last visited December 29, 2014).
3
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not said one word about the right of religious institutions not to participate. The
Kansas Attorney Generals silence on any intent to defend [WBCs] special
interests is deafening, Utah Association of Counties, 255 F.3d at 1256.
On repeated occasions we have recognized that it is impossible for a
government agency to protect both the publics interests and the would-be
intervenors private interests. Indeed, [w]here a government agency may be
placed in the position of defending both public and private interests, the burden of
showing inadequacy of representation is satisfied, New Mexico Off-Highway,
2013 U.S.App. LEXIS 22678 at 7, quoting from WildEarth Guardians, 604 F.3d at
1200.
We have here the familiar situation in which the government agency is
seeking to protect not only the interest of the public but also the private interest of
the petitioners in intervention, a task which is on its face impossible. The cases
correctly hold that this kind of a conflict satisfies the minimal burden of showing
inadequacy of representation, Coalition, 100 F.3d at 845, quoting from National
Farm Lines, 564 F.2d at 384.
presentation of the issues satisfies the prudential concerns that otherwise might
counsel against hearing an appeal from a decision with which the principal parties
agree. As same sex marriage litigation sweeps this land, it is advisable for courts
to permit interested religious organizations to intervene, to ensure there is an actual
defense of the existing bans, given the political pressure on every elected official to
yield the floor to same sex marriage.
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(10th Cir. 2014), cert. den., Smith v. Bishop, 2014 U.S. LEXIS 6054 (U.S. Oct. 6,
2014); the reality of this situation is that the Kansas Attorney General even if he
wanted to (and didnt viscerally disagree with WBCs religious doctrines and
public preachments) is not permitted to assert these religious interests. It is
impossible for the Kansas Attorney General to adequately represent WBCs
interests here, and finding that he is able to adequately represent WBCs interests,
violated the rule of law established by this Court.
Issue 2: The trial court abused its discretion in denying WBC
permissive intervention.
Standard of Review: Permissive intervention lies within the discretion of the
trial court, so the standard of review is abuse of discretion, see San Juan County v.
U.S. Dept of Interior, 503 F.3d 1163. 1207 (10th Cir. 2007); City of Stilwell v.
Ozarks Rural Elec. Coop, 79 F.3d 1038, 1043 (10th Cir. 1996).
Where the Issue was raised in the Record: WBCs motion to intervene, Aplt.
App. at 18-43.
Contentions/Reasons:
within the discretion of the trial court, and that WBC must show that the decision
was arbitrary, capricious, whimsical or manifestly unreasonable. See Nalder v.
West Park Hosp., 254 F.3d 1168, 1174 (10th Cir. 2001) (defining abuse of
discretion review). In this case, WBC submits that because the trial court rested its
decision on the erroneous conclusion that the Kansas Attorney General could
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adequately represent WBCs interest, contrary to the rule of law of this Court that
the government cannot as a matter of law adequately represent the interest of a
private intervenor, that abuse of discretion is shown. Further, there is no basis for
suggesting that WBCs involvement will delay these proceedings or prejudice any
party. No party has come forth claiming prejudice; WBC has promptly filed all
necessary documents, well ahead of any relevant deadlines; WBCs counsel are
experienced in federal court litigation; and if WBC has legal interests in the subject
of this case, even if some level of delay was occasioned by reviewing their legal
interests, such is the nature of intervention, and should not serve as the reason for
denying intervention. The issues in this case are growing; they are unique in the
grand scheme of jurisprudence; and they have the potential to run roughshod over
religious beliefs and practices of many Americans. The courts should bend over
backwards to allow the voice of religious objection in the room when undertaking
to require that all of America accept same sex marriage and all its attendant
requests.
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Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Margie J. Phelps
_________________________________
Margie J. Phelps
P.O. Box 3725
Topeka, KS 66604
785.408.4598 (phone)
785.233.0766 (fax)
margie.phelps@cox.net
Attorney for Movant to Intervene/Appellant
Westboro Baptist Church, Inc.
Attachment
November 7, 2014, Memorandum and Order (denying WBC intervention).
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Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that the foregoing Brief of Appellant was served as follows:
On December 29, 2014, an electronic copy was filed through the Courts
ECF/CM system;
On December 29, 2014, a copy was emailed together with a copy of the
Appendix to all counsel of record.
On December 29, 2014, seven (7) copies, together with two (2) copies of the
Appendix, were mailed to: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth
Circuit, Office of the Clerk, Byron White US Courthouse, 1823 Stout Street,
Denver, Colorado 80257.
/s/ Margie J. Phelps
_____________________________________
Margie J. Phelps
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A. Intervention of Right
Rule 24 recognizes two types of intervention: intervention as a matter of right and
permissive intervention. Intervention of right under Rule 24(a) is mandatory when a federal
statute gives the applicant for intervention an unconditional right to intervene, or when the
applicant satisfies each of four conditions: (1) the applicant has timely moved for intervention;
(2) the applicant has a significantly protectable interest relating to the property or transaction that
is the subject of the action; (3) the applicant is situated such that the disposition of the action may
impair or impede the partys ability to protect that interest; and (4) the applicants interest is not
represented adequately by existing parties. Alameda Water & Sanitation Dist. v. Browner, 9
F.3d 88, 90 (10th Cir. 1993). Failure to satisfy any one of the requirements is fatal to the
application, and [the Court] need not reach the remaining elements if one of the elements is not
satisfied. Perry v. Proposition 8 Official Proponents, 587 F.3d 947, 950 (9th Cir. 2009).
Because the Court concludes that WBC has not carried its burden to show that the current
defendants will not represent its interest adequately, the Court denies WBC motion to intervene
as a matter of right without reaching the remaining factors.
The Kansas Attorney Generals Office represents both the Clerk defendants and
Secretary Moser. The defendants cannot adequately represent WBC, it argues, because the
Attorney Generals Office is unable and unwilling to advance the religiously based arguments
WBC seeks to put before the Court. WBC claims that none of the defendants briefing includes
any religious arguments, and that the Constitution prohibits the Kansas Attorney Generals
Office from asserting religious-based arguments to support the law. The Court agrees with the
premise of WBCs argument that the existing defendants will not represent WBCs religious
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viewpoint. But that conclusion does not also require the Court to conclude WBC interest are not
adequately represented by the existing defendants.
WBC has not identified any differences between the defendants ultimate objective in the
litigation and its own. Nor can the Court identify anyboth seek to uphold Kansas
constitutional and statutory prohibitions against same-sex marriage. A shared ultimate objective
between an existing party and an applicant for intervention triggers a presumption of adequate
representation. Hodes & Nauser, MDs, P.A. v. Moser, No. 2:11-CV-02365-CM-KMH, 2011 WL
4553061, at *3 (D. Kan. Sept. 29, 2011). An applicant may defeat this presumption only by
making a compelling showing to the contrary. Perry, 587 F.3d at 952 (citation omitted).
WBC asserts a number of reasons why the Kansas Attorney Generals Office cannot or will not
adequately represent their interest. The Court has considered each of these arguments, and
concludes that they fail to make the compelling showing required to overcome the presumption
of adequate representation.
First, WBC claims that defendants will not represent its interest because of past
disagreements between WBC and the Kansas Attorney General. WBC cites negative comments
Attorney General Derek Schmidt made about WBC in the press and when he testified before the
state legislature about a proposed funeral picketing law. However, [a]n earlier adverse
relationship with the government does not automatically make for a present adverse
relationship. San Juan Cnty., Utah v. United States, 503 F.3d 1163, 1206 (10th Cir. 2007)
(citing Maine v. Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 262 F.3d 13, 20 (1st Cir. 2001). That
WBC and the Kansas Attorney Generals office have had rifts in the past does not automatically
mean that their interests will differ in this particular litigation.
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To determine whether WBCs interests align with the existing defendants interests, the
Court must decipher the precise interests that WBC claims are at risk in this case. WBC asserts
that their own legal interests are at stake in this case for two reasons: (1) it has an interest in
protecting itself from the waves of litigation that have ensued where same sex marriage is
recognized, with homosexual activists trying to force others to participate, from bakers, to florist,
to clergy; and (2) it has a protectable interest in upholding Kansas same-sex marriage ban
because of its public advocacy against homosexuality.
WBCs concern about having to participate in same-sex marriages is too speculative to
support intervention as a matter of right. An applicant for intervention must demonstrate an
interest that will be adversely impacted and that is not wholly remote and speculative. Hodes &
Nauser, 2011 WL 4553061, at *1. At this point, there is no evidence that Kansas officials would
require WBC to participate in same-sex marriages or otherwise require WBC to tolerate samesex marriages in their ministry. Permitting WBC to intervene to litigate a non-existent
controversy only would clutter and confuse the issues needlessly. Should Kansas actually
enforce or credibly threaten to enforce a requirement that WBC conduct and accept same-sex
marriages, WBC is free to file a separate lawsuit seeking to protect its right to religious
expression.
It is a closer call whether WBCs public advocacy against homosexuality creates a
protectable interest in upholding the ban against same-sex marriage. In general, [a] public
interest group is entitled as a matter of right to intervene in an action challenging the legality of a
measure it has supported. Idaho Farm Bureau Fedn v. Babbitt, 58 F.3d 1392, 1397 (9th Cir.
1995) (upholding intervention as of right by conservation group that had participated in the
listing of endangered species in suit alleging violations of the Endangered Species). On one
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hand, WBC has engaged in extensive public advocacy against recognition and acceptance of
homosexuality. However, unlike the conservation group in Babbit, WBC does not allege that it
was active in creating, implementing or campaigning for the specific Kansas laws challenged in
this case. WBCs interest in preserving Kansas ban against same-sex marriage is therefore
indistinguishable from any other Kansas voters who supported the laws.
WBC cites New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance v. United States Forest Serv.
(NMOHVA), 540 F. Appx 877, 878 (10th Cir. 2013), where the Tenth Circuit vacated an
order denying intervention by two environmental interest groups. The case involved a challenge
to the United State Forest Services final agency action implementing a Travel Management Plan
for the Santa Fe National Forest. Id. at 879. The district court denied two environmental groups
motions to intervene because it concluded that the Forest Service would represent the groups
interests adequately. The Tenth Circuit disagreed and allowed to the groups to intervene. The
court identified three factors that favored intervention: (1) the environmental groups has already
fought aspects of the Forest Services environmental impact statement in an administrative
proceeding; (2) there was uncertainty about what a modified plan would entail if the district
court enjoined the original Travel Management Plan; and (3) the USDA had not given any
indication that it would represent the environmental groups interest. Id. at 881-82.
As discussed above, WBC does not allege that it had any role in shaping or implementing
Kansas same-sex marriage ban, apart from its general advocacy against homosexuality.
Moreover, in NMOHVA, there existed the possibility that the district court would enjoin or
modify the Travel Management Plan only in part. Id. at 881-82. Here, there is not a continuum
of possible outcomes along which WBCs interest and the existing defendants interest may
diverge. Rather there are only two possible outcomes: either the Court permits Kansas to
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continue enforcing its same-sex marriage ban, or the Court enjoins Kansas from enforcing the
ban. WBC and the existing defendants both seek the former result.
Finally, counsel from the Kansas Attorney Generals Office have vigorously defended the
challenged laws at the motion hearing, and have represented that they will continue to do so.
After this Court granted a plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction, defendants promptly
requested en banc review of the Order before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Doc. 30.
Significantly, the Kansas Attorney general is obligated by statute to defend Kansas laws when
they are challenged as unconstitutional. K.S.A. 75-702. Thus, in contrast to the situation
NMOHVA, there is no reason to believe that the interest of the existing defendants and the
interest of WBC in upholding the Kansas same-sex marriage ban will diverge.
In sum, the differences in interests that WBC identifies only amount to differences in
arguments that WBC would like to assert. This is an insufficient basis to conclude WBCs
interests are not adequately represented by the existing defendants. An applicant for intervention
by a party who wishes only to assert different arguments than the government can do so just as
effectively by participating as an amicus curiae. San Juan Cnty., 503 F.3d at 1206 (citing Maine
v. Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 262 F.3d 13, 18-20 (1st Cir. 2001) (affirming denial of
intervention where prospective intervenors would present an argument that the government was
highly unlikely to make because they could present the arguments in capacity of amicus curiae).
The Court, therefore, denies WBCs motion for intervention of right.
B. Permissive Intervention
WBC also seeks permissive intervention. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(b), the Court, in its
discretion, may permit an applicant to intervene if the applicant is given a conditional right to
intervene by federal statute or has a claim or defense that shares with the main action a
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common question of law or fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(b)(1)(A)-(B); Arney v. Finney, 967 F.2d
418, 421 (10th Cir. 1992) (Permissive intervention is a matter within the sound discretion of the
district court. (quotations omitted)).
The Court, in its discretion, declines to grant permissive intervention here because
allowing WBC to intervene with full-party status would clutter the litigation without providing
any compensating benefit to the Court or the parties. WBC can make their arguments to the
Court just as effectively by filing an amicus brief. This method will permit WBC to place its
arguments before the Court while avoiding any procedural complications that might result if the
Court granted it full-party status.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT THAT that WBCs Motion to
Intervene under Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(a) and (b) is denied (Doc. 19). The Court also denies WBCs
request for oral argument on their Motion to Intervene because it finds that WBC skillfully and
comprehensively presented its argument in its motion papers. If WBC wishes to file an amicus
brief with the Court on any future motions, it must do so by filing them on defendants due date,
as it applies to that motion. The amicus brief shall conform to D. Kan. Rule 7.6.
The Court advises WBC that it already has reviewed the merits-based arguments asserted
in their Motion to Intervene and the attached Answer. (Docs. 19, 19-1). Their future amicus
filings, should WBC decide to file them, need not repeat those arguments.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated this 7th day of November, 2014, at Kansas City, Kansas.
s/ Daniel D. Crabtree
Daniel D. Crabtree
United States District Judge