Title: Vasquez v. Kutscher

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as Vasquez v. Kutscher, 95 Ohio St.3d 280, 2002-Ohio-2125.] 
 
 
VASQUEZ ET AL. v. KUTSCHER, JUDGE, ET AL. 
[Cite as Vasquez v. Kutscher, 95 Ohio St.3d 280, 2002-Ohio-2125.] 
Domestic relations — Marriage — License application — R.C. 3101.05(A) does 
not require Social Security numbers from marriage license applicants who 
do not have a Social Security number. 
(No. 2001-1542 — Submitted March 27, 2002 — Decided May 15, 2002.) 
ON ORDER from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 
Western Division, Certifying Questions of State Law, No. 3:01 CV 7059. 
__________________ 
{¶1} 
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 
Western Division, has certified the following questions to us: 
{¶2} 
“l. 
Does Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05(A), as a matter of 
statutory interpretation, require Social Security numbers from marriage license 
applicants who do not have a Social Security Number? 
{¶3} 
“2. 
If question of law number one is answered affirmatively, is 
the State of Ohio’s requirement, under Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05(A), that 
both applicants for marriage licenses provide Social Security numbers as one of 
the grounds of eligibility to marry, unconstitutional as written or applied under the 
Due Process Clause of the Ohio Constitution, Article I, § 16? 
{¶4} 
“3. 
If question of law number one is answered affirmatively 
and question of law number two negatively, is the State of Ohio’s requirement, 
under Ohio Revised Code § 3101.05(A), that both applicants for marriage licenses 
provide Social Security numbers as one of the grounds of eligibility to marry, 
unconstitutional as written or applied under the Equal Protection Clause of the 
Ohio Constitution, Article I, § 2?” 
{¶5} 
The court answers no to certified question No. 1. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
{¶6} 
The court declines to answer certified questions Nos. 2 and 3 in 
view of its answer to certified question No. 1. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc., Mark R. Heller, W. David 
Koeninger and Jeanne Deimling Johns, for petitioners. 
 
Isaac, Brant, Ledman & Teetor, L.L.P., Mark Landes and John E. Vincent, 
for respondent Judge Paul Kutscher, Jr. 
 
Julia R. Bates, Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney, and John A. Borell, 
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for respondent Judge Jack R. Puffenberger. 
 
E. Dennis Muchnicki, for amici curiae ten Franklin County residents who 
are fearful of disclosing their names. 
 
Richard R. Renner, for amicus curiae Hispanic Ministries of Tuscarawas 
County, Inc. 
__________________