In May 2005, Judge
Joseph Bataillon struck down a constitutional amendment passed by Nebraska voters in 2000 that would have banned
gay marriages. That decision, however, was reversed by the
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. In its opinion issued on July 14, 2006, the Eighth Circuit held: the amendment rationally related to legitimate state interests, and therefore did not violate the Equal Protection Clause; the amendment could not be considered a
bill of attainder; the amendment did not violate homosexuals' First Amendment right to associate; and the amendment did not violate homosexuals' First Amendment
right to petition the government for redress of grievances. == Current judges ==