SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) - Utah's same-sex marriage case could be heard by the United States Supreme Court and determine the legality of same-sex unions in the U.S. once and for all.
The nine Justices will meet Monday, September 29th to review petitions for a writ of certiorari on seven gay marriage cases from across the nation. The docket released Wednesday includes Herbert v. Kitchen et al. plus similar cases from Oklahoma, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Attorney Greg Skordas tells ABC4 News that the case they select could shape the outcome.
"A lot of people think it doesn't matter which state's issues they take," Skordas said Wednesday. "Utah however is distinct. Almost every state that has considered this had their legislature pass it...Utah's was passed by the citizens in what was called a constitutional amendment so the Supreme Court might look at that a little differently because in fact if you're deciding the constitutionality of the issue and the voters, the people themselves have made that decision they might take it as a little bit harder look in the Utah case."
In June Utah's ban on same sex marriage was struck down by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and other Circuits made similar decisions.
When Utah petitioned the Supreme Court last month Attorney General Sean Reyes issued a statement reading in part "all Utah citizens will benefit when the Supreme Court provides clear finality on the important issue of state authority to define marriage."
On Wednesday, Shannon Minter the Director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights stated "Utah's same-sex couples and their children are suffering severe harm from the state's continued denial of equal dignity and legal protection for their families. We hope the Supreme Court will affirm the Tenth Circuit's determination that same-sex couples and theirchildren deserve the same protection and respect as other families."
Skordas was asked how he thought the Supreme Court might rule.
"I think a lot of people have felt that this was a done deal. That the Supreme Court would decide the way that 95 percent of the federal courts have decided," Skordas said. "But our Supreme Court is fairly conservative. I think it's going to be a closer vote than a lot of people do going into this."
The Supreme Court case selection process can take months but Skordas believes they'll act quickly on this issue and we could have a ruling by the Spring of 2015. Reported by abc4 5 hours ago.
The nine Justices will meet Monday, September 29th to review petitions for a writ of certiorari on seven gay marriage cases from across the nation. The docket released Wednesday includes Herbert v. Kitchen et al. plus similar cases from Oklahoma, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Attorney Greg Skordas tells ABC4 News that the case they select could shape the outcome.
"A lot of people think it doesn't matter which state's issues they take," Skordas said Wednesday. "Utah however is distinct. Almost every state that has considered this had their legislature pass it...Utah's was passed by the citizens in what was called a constitutional amendment so the Supreme Court might look at that a little differently because in fact if you're deciding the constitutionality of the issue and the voters, the people themselves have made that decision they might take it as a little bit harder look in the Utah case."
In June Utah's ban on same sex marriage was struck down by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and other Circuits made similar decisions.
When Utah petitioned the Supreme Court last month Attorney General Sean Reyes issued a statement reading in part "all Utah citizens will benefit when the Supreme Court provides clear finality on the important issue of state authority to define marriage."
On Wednesday, Shannon Minter the Director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights stated "Utah's same-sex couples and their children are suffering severe harm from the state's continued denial of equal dignity and legal protection for their families. We hope the Supreme Court will affirm the Tenth Circuit's determination that same-sex couples and theirchildren deserve the same protection and respect as other families."
Skordas was asked how he thought the Supreme Court might rule.
"I think a lot of people have felt that this was a done deal. That the Supreme Court would decide the way that 95 percent of the federal courts have decided," Skordas said. "But our Supreme Court is fairly conservative. I think it's going to be a closer vote than a lot of people do going into this."
The Supreme Court case selection process can take months but Skordas believes they'll act quickly on this issue and we could have a ruling by the Spring of 2015. Reported by abc4 5 hours ago.