The U.S. Supreme Court today (Friday, Jan. 9) took no action on appeals of five marriage equality cases from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. The 6th Circuit court is the only federal appellate court since the Supreme Court’s June 2013 ruling declaring parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional to rule against marriage equality and in favor of state bans on same-sex marriage.
The Supreme Court last fall chose not to hear appeals in cases from other circuits, all of which had ruled in favor of equality. The court also chose not to extend the stay on a Florida judge’s ruling overturning the ban there, leading to the start of same-sex marriages there on Monday (Jan. 5).
Although today was the first day the court might have announced some action on the five 6th Circuit cases, it wasn’t the last. According to a report by Reuters, the justices often delay acting on cases the first time they are discussed in their private sessions. An announcement on whether the court will hear the cases could come as soon as next week.
