By Cheryl Wetzstein - The Washington Times
In a surprise move on its first day in session the
Supreme Court denied without comment seven petitions regarding same-sex marriage.
The move means that rulings overturning state laws against gay marriage can go into effect and couples in at least five states including
Virginia can marry soon.
Gay marriage advocates were jubilant over the turn of events although noted that gay marriage is still not legal from coast to coast.
This is a momentous victory for the constitutional promise of equality dignity and justice for all Americans" said Theodore B. Olson of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP co-counsel for the Virginia gay couples.
With the Commonwealths discriminatory marriage ban finally and conclusively struck down we are one giant step closer to the day that all Americans not just Virginians can enjoy their right to marriage equality under the law."
Today is a joyous day for thousands of couples across America who will immediately feel the impact of todays
Supreme Court action" said
Chad Griffin president of the Human Rights Campaign.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring tweeted that his office was working with courts and state officials. Were expecting that marriages between same-sex couples can happen later today" he wrote.
An announcement later went out that marriages in
Virginia could commence at 1 p.m.
Mondays action means gay marriage is legal in Utah Oklahoma
Virginia Wisconsin and Indiana.
Other states presumably affected are West
Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Kansas Colorado and Wyoming.
The
high court declined to hear petitions in Bogan v. Baskin (in Indiana); Walker v. Wolf (in Wisconsin); Herbert v. Kitchen (in Utah); McQuigg v. Bostic (in
Virginia); Rainey v. Bostic (in
Virginia); Schaefer v. Bostic (in
Virginia); and Smith v. Bishop (in Oklahoma).
Still he said the nation still has a complex and discriminatory patchwork of marriage laws."
The only acceptable solution is nationwide marriage equality and we recommit to ourselves to securing that ultimate victory as soon as possible"
Mr. Griffin said.
Byron Babione an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) said that although the
court decided not to take up the marriage issue at this time the marriage battle will continue."
Several federal courts including those in the 5th 6th 8th and 11th circuits still have cases working their way to the
Supreme Court" he said. ADF will continue to remain a leader in the critical effort for the freedom of the people. The people should decide this issue not the courts."
By turning away the cases the high court left intact rulings from the 4th 7th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeal that upheld rulings saying state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional.
Rulings from the 6th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeal are expected soon
