The U.S. Supreme Court did not release its decisions in the two landmark cases involving marriage for same-sex couples. The next date for release of opinions is Monday, June 24.
Although the chief justice has not yet announced the last day of the session, it most likely will be Thursday, June 27. With three decisions in other cases released today, that leaves just 11 opinions left outstanding to be released next Monday and Thursday.
Historically, the Supreme Court releases opinions in its most debated cases on the last day of the session. In this session, however, the court still has opinions pending in two other highly contentious cases –one concerning the Voting Rights Act and the other concerning affirmative action. There’s a good chance the court will issue its marriage decisions Monday and issue the other two on Thursday.
Interestingly, 65 percent of visitors to the well-respected scotusblog this morning predicted the court would strike down both Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Lisa Keen, co-author of Strangers to the Law: Gay People on Trial, will be posting nearly daily on legal matters leading up to and beyond the Supreme Court decision. Her coverage on this and other issues is also available at KeenNewsService.com.
Bob
Most legal scholars think Prop 8 will be struck down, but it is VERY unlikely that the court will issue a ruling that affects anywhere except California. Striking down Prop 8 does NOT mean marriage for everyone everywhere.
twoguysbrooklyn
True Bob, but it’s a win. California will be #13 and if the Democratic Black Caucus gets its act together, Illinois can still be #14 this year.
Striking down section 3 of DOMA will give those who are legally married (in states where it’s legal) rights to Federal benefits. That is a HUGE win. That will put pressure on the “civil-union only” states to legislate marriage since maintaining civil unions will not provide equal benefits.
And no, it won’t mean marriage for everyone everywhere but it has been an amazing turnaround in 5 years. We have to celebrate that.
Jim Hlavac
Geez, I wonder if the Court knows it’s the 40th Anniversary of America’s largest unsolved mass murder — for on June 24th, 1973 32 gay men were burned to death in New Orleans’ Upstairs Lounge, which was doubling as an MCC church that fine Sunday morning. There was one 30 second news report on one network, nothing else at the time. One pastor came to comfort the grieving, he was chastised by his bishop. Only 7 families claimed their sons. The rest let them get buried in a potters field — no memorial there yet. Apparently those men were out to their families. It was also the same year that New Orleans wanted to plow a six lane superhighway through the French Quarter to rid them of their queer problem. Ah, history — so little known, yes? Somehow I doubt the Supremes are aware of the anniversary. Hell, any in the LGBTQetc community seem to be unaware of the slaughter too. No investigation was done, no need, just someone killing gay guys — it barely makes lists of mass deaths by fires on the internet. The unknown slaughter, sad.