Muller v. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.

OPINION

EASTAUGH, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

We here consider the effect of the marital status anti-discrimination clause in AS 18.80.220(a)(1). After an unmarried couple sued their former employer, the United States District Court for the District of Alaska certified to us the following two questions: whether AS 18.80.220(a)(1) prevents an employer from discriminating against an employee “based on the identity of his spouse,” and whether AS 18.80.220(a)(1) is limited to preventing employers from discriminating based on the status of being married. We answer these questions “no,” and “yes,”…