United States v. Windsor and the Future of Civil Unions and Other Marriage Alternatives

This essay is the fourth in a series exploring the implications of the recent landmark Supreme Court case, United States v. Windsor. Specifically, this essay focuses on the future of civil unions. This discussion was inspired by Meg Penrose’s article, UNBREAKABLE VOWS: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DIVORCE, published in Volume 58:1. The series is meant to serve as an open forum for scholars and practitioners to weigh in on one of the most significant Supreme Court decisions of the 21st century.