Cross-posted from Mike Malloy
The Supreme Court is back in session, Truthseekers, and has announced that they will not be hearing any marriage equality cases. This clears the way for people in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin to legally marry, regardless of gender. At least, for now. The bad news here is that Justice Ginsberg hinted that the court might take up the issue at a later date if, for example, one of the appeals courts in the Midwest or South upheld state bans on marriage equality.
The Washington Post has more:
"The court's decision came without explanation and puts off a decision about the constitutionality of gay marriage that would apply to all 50 states. But it sent a clear signal that a majority of the court did not feel the need to overturn lower court decisions that found state prohibitions were unconstitutional.
"Marriages had been on hold in the five states that were before the court, and it now appears same-sex unions there can begin immediately.
"The decision will likely expand same-sex marriages to other states covered by the federal appeals courts that already have ruled that the bans are unconstitutional, including Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. That would bring to 30 the number of states where gays can marry.
"'I'm blown away by this,' said James Esseks, a lawyer who heads the American Civil Liberties Union's legal efforts concerning gay marriage. 'It is a watershed moment for the entire country.'
"It was a move that stunned those who closely watch the court. Even though no appeals court had ruled that state prohibitions were constitutional -- and such disagreements between federal circuit courts usually are precursors to Supreme Court review -- most thought the court would not let such a significant change happen without their input."But Esseks said that Monday's action indicates that it doesn't matter whether an appeals court now rules that state prohibitions are constitutional. 'If that happened, the court will clearly take the case and decide the issue,' Esseks said. 'But (Monday's decision) is more than a hint about what the court will do.'"
We can hope that Esseks is right in his prediction about a future ruling from the high court, they can be a rather schizophrenic crew. For now, at least, we can enjoy this small victory and hope that the lovers continue to win over the haters.
Also on the program tonight, the growing Ebola crisis; key midterm election races that might have a serious effect on future legislation -- that is, if the members of Congress ever took up the pastime of legislating again; and the increasing likelihood of US ground troops engaging ISIS in Syria or elsewhere.
