Judge Michael McShane
UPDATE 1: Judge Michael McShane declared Oregon’s marriage ban unconstitutional. The ruling was expect and couples lined up for licenses even before the ruling was released, according to Associated Press. The state is not expected to appeal, but there was no announcement of when marriage equality begins.
In his 26-page opinion, Shane wrote, “At the core of the Equal Protection Clause … there exists a foundational belief that certain rights should be shielded from the barking crowds; that certain rights are subject to ownership by all and not the stake hold of popular trend or shifting majorities.”
UPDATE 2: The first marriages have already taken place in Oregon, according to The Oregonian.
ORIGINAL POST:
Judge Michael McShane will rule on Oregon’s marriage ban at noon (2 p.m. Central time) today.
McShane and his husband are raising a child together.
Oregon’s attorney general said she would not appeal if the marriage ban is overturned and declined to defend the law when the case was heard in McShane’s court on Wednesday.
Should McShane not overturn the marriage ban making Oregon marriage-equality state No. 19, Oregon United for Marriage has enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot in November.
So the real question is whether marriage equality comes to Oregon this afternoon or will couples have to wait until later in the week. Also, how embarrassed is everyone in Oregon that Arkansas couples were able to marry in marriage-equality state No. 18 first? I mean Arkansas. Sheesh.
