The Supreme Court Shuts Its Door to Gay Marriage Challenges
The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear appeals from five states of appellate court rulings striking down state marriage laws.
The decision to not hear the cases, for now, means that Virginia, Wisconsin and Utah will begin recognizing marriages of two people of the same gender. Since the appeals courts for those states cover other states, the decision could mean that an additional six states may be required to recognize same-sex marriages, even if the voters or elected bodies of those states chose to define civil marriage as only the union of one man and one woman.
The Court was petitioned by both traditional marriage supporters and same-sex marriage supporters to hear the cases.
The Court could be waiting for a split decision at the appellate level before hearing the cases. So far at the appellate level, the courts have only struck down state marriage laws. There are several cases pending at other appeals courts, however. If one of those courts upholds a state marriage law, the Court will be more likely to hear the cases. The Court has until January, if it is going to take up gay marriage this term.
