Federal Appeals Court Blocks Same-Sex Marriage in California as Case Continues

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Same-sex weddings in California are on hold indefinitely after a federal appeals court blocked the unions Monday while it considers the constitutionality of the state's gay marriage ban.

The decision, issued by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, trumps a lower court judge's order that would have allowed county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Wednesday.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker decided last week to allow gay marriages to go forward after ruling that the ban, known as Proposition 8, violated equal protection and due process rights of gays and lesbians guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

The Proposition 8 legal team quickly appealed Walker's ruling in a case that many believe will end up before the Supreme Court.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/16/federal-appeals-court-blocks-sex-marriage-california-case-continues/

[The_Dude 1,142]

So this case looks like it is being fast tracked to the supreme court.

[Darnell 8,478]

In other news ...

The Government of Mexico has declared that same sex marriages occuring in DF/Distrito Federales/Mexico City MUST BE legally recognized in all Mexican States.

So a couple, from Aguascalientes, for example, could not get married in Aguascalientes, where it's NOT legal to get married, but if they married in Mexico City, where it IS legal so to do, that marriage is recognized nationally.

I think it's a big deal, really. A step in the right direction, for Mexico and Mexicans.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So this case looks like it is being fast tracked to the supreme court.

Rumor mill says the first hearing may begin as early as December before a three judge panel. That may, or may not settle the issue for the ninth. SCOTUS will probably not even consider hearing the case until after next October.

Edited August 16, 2010 by ##########

[HAL 9000 96]

Rumor mill says the first hearing may begin as early as December before a three judge panel. That may, or may not settle the issue for the ninth. SCOTUS will probably not even consider hearing the case until after next October.

The Appeals court will very likely uphold Walker's ruling IMO.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The Appeals court will very likely uphold Walker's ruling IMO.

Good call. Ted Olson is about as persuasive an adversary as one could ever hope to handle the case, and the Ninth will most likely allow itself to be persuaded, if not as a three judge panel, definitely en banc.

Edited August 17, 2010 by ##########