Plaintiffs in the Texas marriage equality case listen as their attorney, Neel Lane, center, speaks at a press conference outside the courthouse in New Orleans after the 5th Circuit court hearing on Jan. 9. Plaintiffs are Nicole Dimetman and Cleo DeLeon of Austin and Victor Holmes and Mark Phariss of Plano. (Photo by Erin Moore)
The U.S. Supreme Court decided today (Friday, Jan. 16) to hear arguments in four cases challenging marriage equality. The justices are expected to hear arguments in the cases in April and issue a ruling by June, according to reports by CNN and others.
The court will hear appeals from Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan — all four of which are in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the only federal appellate court to have ruled against marriage equality since SCOTUS’ landmark U.S. v Windsor decision in June 2013.
In the first week of 2015, Florida became the 36th marriage equality state. The District of Columbia also recognizes same-sex marriages
The Supreme Court last October declined to hear appeals in several cases challenging same-sex marriage bans, all of which had been decided by federal appellate courts in favor of equality.The decision by the court launched a wave of new marriage equality states and appeared to indicate that the court stands in favor of marriage equality.
The court also declined in December to extend a stay on the federal trial court ruling striking down the same-sex marriage ban in Florida.
A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments last Friday, Jan. 9, in marriage equality cases from Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Although there is no word yet when the 5th Circuit court might issue a decision in those cases, marriage equality supporters feel the decision will come down in their favor.
