Arlington County v. White

JUSTICE HASSELL,

with whom CHIEF JUSTICE CARRICO and

SENIOR JUSTICE COMPTON join, dissenting in part, and concurring in judgment.

I

I dissent because the majority ignores the fundamental issue raised in this appeal: Does Arlington County have the legal authority to recognize common law marriages or “same-sex unions” by conferring certain health insurance benefits upon domestic partners of County employees who are engaged in these relationships? Even though a review of the briefs and record filed in this appeal demonstrates that this question is the primary issue raised in this appeal, the…