BAILING OUT

Law Firm Defending Marriage Act Quits

After being criticized by gay-rights groups.

President Obama won’t defend the Defense of Marriage Act anymore—and now neither will the law firm hired to do it. King & Spalding, the company paid to argue for the government’s ban on recognizing same-sex marriage, has withdrawn from the case. Republican members of Congress brought on the firm after the Justice Department announced that it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act. (The Obama administration has also announced that it views the law as unconstitutional.) The law firm’s decision caused waves internally, prompting Paul Clement, a partner, to resign. Clement served as solicitor general under George W. Bush, and has said that he will continue to defend the constitutionality of the act as a partner in another firm. He has since joined the firm Bancroft PLLC.