U.S. Supreme Court declines to take gay marriages cases

SCOTUS is leaving the ball in the court of the Fifth Circuit, which is the most conservative of the circuits and has yet to rule on the matter.

A three-judge panel will hear the Texas case sometime next year. If the Fifth Circuit votes to overturn the ruling striking down Texas' ban, then we'll have a split among the lower courts and SCOTUS will have no choice but to take it up.

 

The Roberts Court joins Sammy Baugh, Mike Bragg and Pat Richter on the Mt. Rushmore of great Washington punters.

 

What seems most interesting to me is that the Court had earlier granted stays in all these cases--which requires five votes if, as here, the application for a stay is referred to the full court. Cert only requires four votes.

 

Two more states today -- Idaho and Nevada.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/07/appeals-judges-strike-down-gay-marriage-ban-idaho-nevada

As a side note, this ought to liven up the quick Vegas wedding industry quite a bit.

 

Who in government will protect us from gays?

 

Hold on...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/us/justice-kennedy-blocks-same-sex-ruling-in-idaho.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

 

Political thread?

 

I think that's pretty standard. They did the same thing when Prop 8 was overturned.

 

Liberty either has its limits or it doesn't.

When a polygamist or "free love" couple complains about their rights.....someone will say "who are we to deny them this? How does it affect us?


When a 15-year-old (who can sue parents already for various reasons) challenges the age of consent in a state that is 16....someone will say "who are we to deny them this? How does it affect us?

Then a 14-year-old....

...and 13.....


....then 12....

 

And then a dog and a cat!

 

Indeed, they will. And have.

And the courts will consider their claims on their merits, just like here.

The State has to offer a legitimate reason to ban same-sex marriage. It has not. I doubt it would run into the same difficulty regarding 12-year-old marriage.