Joshua A. Newville

Joshua A. Newville, known as simply Josh Newville (born August 9, 1984), is an American attorney, mediator, adjunct law professor, and gay rights advocate. He is a Partner at Madia Newville LLC, a Minneapolis, MN-based law firm that focuses on civil rights and employment discrimination civil litigation. In 2014, Newville sued state officials in both South Dakota and North Dakota over the states' bans on same-sex marriage. Newville gained national attention for taking on the last two unchallenged state bans on same-sex marriage in the United States.

Education

Newville earned his J.D., ''cum laude'', from University of Minnesota Law School and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.

Same-sex Marriage Litigation

On May 22, 2014, Newville filed a federal lawsuit, '' Rosenbrahn v. Daugaard'', on behalf of six same-sex couples against South Dakota officials, seeking the right to marry and recognition of marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

On June 6, 2014, Newville filed a similar lawsuit, '' Ramsay v. Dalrymple'', on behalf of seven same-sex couples in North Dakota.

U.S. District Court Judge Karen Schreier heard arguments in '' Rosenbrahn v. Daugaard'' on October 17, 2014. The state defendants argued she was bound by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit's decision in ''Citizens for Equal Protection v. Bruning'' (2006), which Newville argued did not address the questions the plaintiffs raised in his case. On November 14, Judge Schreier denied the defense's motion to dismiss. She found that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in '' Baker V Nelson'' was no longer valid precedent and that ''Bruning'' did not address due process or the question of a fundamental right to marry. She dismissed the plaintiffs' claim that South Dakota violated their right to travel. She set a briefing schedule to conclude December 8.

On January 12, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Karen Schreier granted Newville's motion for summary judgment in '' Rosenbrahn v. Daugaard'', striking down South Dakota's ban on same-sex marriage but putting a stay on her order until appeals were exhausted. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley immediately announced that he would appeal the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The Court of Appeals later affirmed Judge Schreier's opinion following ''Obergefell v Hodges''.

After the first same-sex marriage licenses were issued in South Dakota on June 26, 2015, Newville told reporters that he was ecstatic for his clients and as a gay man himself.

On June 29, 2015, the U.S. District Court in North Dakota issued an order in ''Ramsay v. Dalrymple'' holding that North Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

Other Notable Cases

In 2016, Newville represented a whistleblower and helped the government recover $6.2M in a Medicare fraud case. Newville's client was awarded more than $1.2 million.

In 2017, Newville won a case at the Minnesota Supreme Court that clarified that undocumented workers are entitled to protection under a Minnesota law that prohibits retaliatory employment discharge.

In 2021, Newville won summary judgment for a police shooting victim against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. After U.S. District Court Judge Richard F. Boulware found in favor of Newville's client, the case settled for $525,000.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newville, Joshua A.
University of Minnesota Law School alumni
Living people
1984 births