In the lower courts this case was first referred to as Obergefell v. Kasich. It was between James Obergefell and John Arthur as the plaintiffs and John Kasich, Ohio’s governor, as the lead defendant. Obergefell and Arthur wanted the state of Ohio to recognize their legal marriage from a different state. Since Arthur had a terminal illness, ALS, he wanted Obergefell to be recognized as his surviving spouse on his death certificate. Initially it was first argued on July 19, 2013 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The Ohio Registrar ruled with Obergefell and agreed that limiting the couple’s rights was unconstitutional while the state attorney general’s office disagreed and planned to defend Ohio’s same-sex
