In 2008, Karen Golinski filed an application to place her spouse, Amy, on her federal health care policy. Karen is employed at the Ninth District Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
OPM refused to allow Golinski to add her spouse as a covered dependent because the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibits recognition of same-sex marriage. Following OPM's decision, Golinski appealed to the Ninth Circuit's Employment Dispute Resolution Plan. She charged that OPM is discriminating against her.