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US government recognises new same-sex marriages as Arizona ban falls Arizona ban on same-sex marriage struck down as states give up fight
(about 4 hours later)
The federal government will recognize same-sex marriages in more seven states, US attorney general Eric Holder announced on Friday, just as a district judge struck down Arizona’s same-sex marriage ban. Marriage bans in Arizona and Alaska were struck down on Friday, while a federal judge in Wyoming ordered the state to allow same-sex marriage but stayed his decision for nearly a week to allow an appeal.
Holder said he has instructed a team of Justice Department lawyers to ensure that benefits will be extended to same-sex couples as soon as possible in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado and Nevada. The conservative attorney general in Arizona said he wouldn’t challenge the decision of US district judge John Sedwick to strike strike down Arizona’s same-sex marriage ban on Friday morning.
Tom Horne said continuing to defend the state’s marriage ban would be an “an exercise in futility”.
“Therefore, the only purpose to be served by filing another appeal would be to waste the taxpayer’s money,” Horne said. “That is not a good conservative principle.”
Couples across the state quickly rushed to wed.
In Alaska, the US supreme court denied a state request to put gay marriages on hold pending its appeal of a federal judge’s decision on Sunday to strike down a ban. That decision, too, meant gay couples in Alaska could wed immediately.
In Wyoming, however, US district judge Scott Skavdahl ruled that the state must comply with a ruling by the 10th circuit court of appeals that permits same-sex marriage. But his ruling will not take effect until next Thursday in order to allow time for the state to appeal.
Meanwhile, the federal government will recognize same-sex marriages in more seven states, US attorney general Eric Holder announced on Friday. Holder said he has instructed a team of Justice Department lawyers to ensure that benefits will be extended to same-sex couples as soon as possible in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado and Nevada.
“We will not delay in fulfilling our responsibility to afford every eligible couple, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, the full rights and responsibilities to which they are entitled,” Holder said. “With their long-awaited unions, we are slowly drawing closer to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans nationwide.”“We will not delay in fulfilling our responsibility to afford every eligible couple, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, the full rights and responsibilities to which they are entitled,” Holder said. “With their long-awaited unions, we are slowly drawing closer to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans nationwide.”
Last week, the US supreme court declined to hear seven petitions on same-sex marriage cases in five states, clearing the way for marriage equality in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The unexpected decision also set a legal precedent in states under the jurisdiction of circuit courts that heard the appeals brought to the supreme court.Last week, the US supreme court declined to hear seven petitions on same-sex marriage cases in five states, clearing the way for marriage equality in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. The unexpected decision also set a legal precedent in states under the jurisdiction of circuit courts that heard the appeals brought to the supreme court.
This includes Colorado, which began issuing same-sex marriage licenses hours after the supreme court’s announcement was made. Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming also fell under the court’s jurisdiction and same-sex marriage cases are trickling through those states.This includes Colorado, which began issuing same-sex marriage licenses hours after the supreme court’s announcement was made. Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming also fell under the court’s jurisdiction and same-sex marriage cases are trickling through those states.
A day after the supreme court announced its decision, the US ninth circuit court of appeals struck down bans in Nevada and Idaho. Nevada began issuing same-sex marriage licenses two days later and Idaho started issuing them on Wednesday.A day after the supreme court announced its decision, the US ninth circuit court of appeals struck down bans in Nevada and Idaho. Nevada began issuing same-sex marriage licenses two days later and Idaho started issuing them on Wednesday.
The ninth circuit’s move resonated in the three other ninth circuit states that have yet to legalize same-sex marriage: Montana, Arizona and Alaska.
US district judge John Sedwick, who was appointed by George W Bush in 1992, struck down Arizona’s same-sex marriage ban on Friday morning. He said that “an appeal to the ninth circuit would be futile”, and noted that the supreme court’s denial indicated that requests for appeal will be ignored.
Later Friday, Arizona’s attorney general Tom Horne said he would not defend the state’s marriage ban. He called an attempt at an appeal “an exercise in futility.”
“Therefore, the only purpose to be served by filing another appeal would be to waste the taxpayer’s money,” Horne said. “That is not a good conservative principle.”
A US district judge on Sunday struck down Alaska’s ban, though state officials said they plan to file an appeal with the ninth circuit, the most liberal circuit in the country.
The Montana branch of the ACLU this week filed a request for summary judgement in its case challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Holder said same-sex marriage is now federally recognized in 24 states, plus the District of Columbia.Holder said same-sex marriage is now federally recognized in 24 states, plus the District of Columbia.
“The steady progress toward LGBT equality we’ve seen – and celebrated – is important and historic,” said Holder. “But there remain too many places in this country where men and women cannot visit their partners in the hospital, or be recognized as the rightful parents of their own adopted children; where people can be discriminated against just because they are gay.”“The steady progress toward LGBT equality we’ve seen – and celebrated – is important and historic,” said Holder. “But there remain too many places in this country where men and women cannot visit their partners in the hospital, or be recognized as the rightful parents of their own adopted children; where people can be discriminated against just because they are gay.”
Same-sex proponents have had a nearly uninterrupted streak of legal successes since June 2013, when the supreme court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1996. These court successes have resulted in a back and forth of appeals and stays in conservative states that do not support the ban, provoking both sides of the issue to request the supreme court to intervene.Same-sex proponents have had a nearly uninterrupted streak of legal successes since June 2013, when the supreme court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1996. These court successes have resulted in a back and forth of appeals and stays in conservative states that do not support the ban, provoking both sides of the issue to request the supreme court to intervene.
While it denied the seven petitions earlier this month, law experts are keeping a close eye on circuit courts, primarily the fifth and sixth, that could dissent from the streak of rulings in favor of marriage equality. Holder said that if the supreme court addresses the issue, “the Justice Department is prepared to file a brief consistent with its past support for marriage equality.”While it denied the seven petitions earlier this month, law experts are keeping a close eye on circuit courts, primarily the fifth and sixth, that could dissent from the streak of rulings in favor of marriage equality. Holder said that if the supreme court addresses the issue, “the Justice Department is prepared to file a brief consistent with its past support for marriage equality.”