This final judicial appeal will be heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (“Privy Council”). When the UK Supreme Court sits as the final court of appeal for British Overseas Territories and Commonwealth countries, that Court is referred to as the Privy Council. After the case is argued in December, the decision is likely to be made public in the first quarter of 2021, and no more appeals are possible.
“We’ve long known that our pursuit of marriage equality would be a marathon, not a sprint,” said OUTBermuda director Adrian Hartnett-Beasley. “We are united to make this final push to preserve our equal rights under the law for all Bermudians and all families. We deserve no less.”
“Love ultimately must win,” declared OUTBermuda director Zakiya Lord. “Since our first court victory and despite every obstacle put in our path, Bermuda’s loving same-sex couples have celebrated their vows under Bermuda law. It’s time for all of us to have certainty, protection and equal dignity that marriage rights will ensure.”
Co-plaintiff Roderick Ferguson, whose lawsuit spawned the original Supreme Court victory in this matter in 2018, said: “We always knew this road might take us all the way to the Privy Council in London. Over the past three years, LGBTQ Bermudians and their supporters have shown their strength and their numbers like never before. The popular support for marriage equality and for the LGBTQ community is stronger than ever and growing among Commonwealth nations. With three judicial victories behind us, we could not have more faith in the fairness of the courts and our ultimate victory.”
