On June 26, 2015, in a 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court held that there is a fundamental Constitutional right to marry which includes same-sex couples. The Court also held that same-sex marriages performed in one state must be recognized by every other state. Justice Kennedy, writing for the majority, started the opinion “The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons, within a lawful … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Marriage Goes National
Sixth Circuit
Same-Sex Marriage Showdown
Last Tuesday, April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Obergefell v. Hodges and its companion cases. In this case and its companion cases, the 6th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals had upheld state bans on gay marriage and / or the right of states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Prior to that ruling, the 4th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Circuits had all struck the bans on gay marriage in states under their jurisdiction. Of course, nobody except the nine … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Marriage Showdown
Same-Sex Marriage in Alabama
This week, Alabama became the 37th state to allow same-sex marriage. A federal district court judge in Alabama had found that Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution. U.S. District Judge Granade had stayed her decision until early this week. Earlier this month, the 11th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals refused to extend the stay. Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court also refused to extend the stay. As an Alabama sideshow, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Judge Roy … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Marriage in Alabama
Same-Sex Marriage Update
Late last week, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a writ of certiorari in Bourke v. Beshear, DeBoer v. Snyder, Obergefell v. Hodges, and Tanco v. Haslam. In each of these cases, the 6th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals had upheld state bans on gay marriage and / or the right of states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Prior to that ruling, the 4th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Circuits had all struck the bans on gay marriage in states under their jurisdiction. Of course, … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Marriage Update
Same-Sex Marriage Update
Earlier this week, same-sex marriages commenced in Florida, the nation’s fourth most populous state. At this time, more than 70% of people in the United States live in a state which allows same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is allowed from Florida to Alaska and from Maine to Hawaii. Same-sex marriage is allowed in 36 states plus the District of Columbia. In addition, some counties in Missouri respect same-sex marriages conducted elsewhere Beginning later this week, the 5th Circuit of the U.S. … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Marriage Update
Same-Sex Marriage Showdown Likely
On November 6, 2014, in a 2-1 decision in DeBoer v. Snyder, the 6th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals broke with other federal courts of appeals and upheld bans on gay marriage. The 6th Circuit upheld bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Prior to this ruling, the 4th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Circuits have all struck the bans in the states which they cover. The 6th Circuit viewed the bans as the exercise of the will of the majority of people in the states with the bans it upheld. The … [Read more...] about Same-Sex Marriage Showdown Likely
