Miss. eyes U.S. Supreme Court on gay union issue
At issue is whether state bans on same-sex marriage violate the U.S. Constitution in terms of discrimination. Supreme Court justices are expected to issue an opinion on the matter in late June. When they do, it will settle several ongoing cases, including one in Mississippi.
U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves had overturned Mississippi’s same-sex marriage ban in November, but Mississippi appealed that ruling. As such, the ban remains in effect while awaiting final decision from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 5th Circuit heard Mississippi’s case, along with those from Texas and Louisiana, on Jan. 9. But it has yet to issue a decision, and it’s unclear now if it ever will.
“If the 5th Circuit were going to release an opinion, it would have done it by now,” said Jackson attorney Robert McDuff, who represents the plaintiffs in the Mississippi case. “I now believe the 5th Circuit has decided just to wait, to not issue its own decision and just let the Supreme Court decide it.”
Clarion Ledger
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/27/miss-eyes-us-supreme-court-gay-union-issue/26494103/
4/27/15
Magnolia Tribune
