Justice Steven

http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2002/2002_02_102


Lawrence vs Texas


1. Police entered Lawrence's residence because of a reported weapon firing 
2. The officer found Lawrence and Garner in bed involving a sexual act. 
3. At that time, Texas prohibited same sex sexual act. 
4. It was unconstitutional for Texas to outlaw it because of due process.
5. Lawrence's rights were protected. and won the case. 
6. . In a 6-3 opinion delivered by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the Court held that the Texas statute making it a crime for two persons of the same sex to engage in certain intimate sexual conduct violates the Due Process Clause.
Q's. 
1. Do the criminal convictions of John Lawrence and Tyron Garner under the Texas "Homosexual Conduct" law, which criminalizes sexual intimacy by same-sex couples, but not identical behavior by different-sex couples, violate the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of equal protection of laws? 
2. Do their criminal convictions for adult consensual sexual intimacy in the home violate their vital interests in liberty and privacy protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? 
3. Should Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986), be overruled?
4. If this case was ruled in favor of Lawrence, would gay marriage be legal? 


I do not think the capacity of the House of Representatives should increase dramatically. The efficiency, productivity and work done in House of Rep. currently are significantly low and unefficient. Thus, if there are more members in the House, the efficiency and productivity will even become worse.