Federal Judge rules Utah's ban on gay marrage illegal. Internet about to explode

[downtown]

Welp, I think church is going to be totally insufferable for me for the next few months.

A federal judge in Utah Friday struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, saying the ban violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process.

"The state’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason," wrote U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby. "Accordingly, the court finds that these laws are unconstitutional."

If you thought this was a political football NOW, wait until you see the aftermath for when the fights goes to probably the single most conservative state in the US.

WELP

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57291925-78/ban-judge-sex-court.html.csp

AND the actual ruling, here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/192782903/Amendment-3-Ruling

 

[bhsup]

That's the biggie. The judge has made it covered as a fundamental right as protected by the Constitution and not some state issue that isn't addressed by the Constitution. If this goes all the way to the SC and is upheld, that's game over for every State that ever passed bans.

EDIT: Does this signal the mass exodus to Uganda??

 

[Formaldehyde]

Wouldn't that be a real shame for homosexuals to finally have the same rights as everybody else in this particular regard?

This is certainly going to upset the congressmen who continue to vote against providing them those very rights.

 

[bhsup]

Wouldn't that be a real shame for homosexuals to finally have the same rights as everybody else in this particular regard?

Nope. Twas a good ruling. Hope you're not disappointed.

 

[Archbob]

Despite me not agreeing on a religious basis, I have to 100% support this legal ruling. If the main reasons(or only reasons) in denying this are religious in origin, the law should should not uphold those feeling as the law in this country should be secular are outlined by the constitution.

 

[El_Machinae]

Yeah, I think this a symptom of classically 'right wing' states will actually have fairly robust Constitutions.

 

[Antilogic]

This is definitely going to be appealed up to the Supreme Court, probably will be a big 2014 or 2015 case.

Anthony Kennedy, despite being a business-friendly conservative justice, has been somewhat gay-friendly in the past. I would hazard a guess this decision has a decent chance of surviving the court.

 

[Archbob]

It depends actually, do the conservatives really want to appeal it all the way up and risk losing every states' ban on gay marriage?

 

[El_Machinae]

You haven't followed the discussions regarding why Gay marriage isn't a slippery slope, have you? The only thing that it might be a slippery slope for are some types of polygamy.

Sorry! Sorrysorrysorry!

 

[bhsup]

Conservatives won't have to. I would think once the ruling is made, other groups can point to that ruling as a legitimate reason to bring their own case in federal courts under the same basis to get State statutes/amendments overturned. IF any of those fail, they can I would assume continue up the chain?

Not a lawyer, so maybe they cannot do that, but I would expect they can??

 

[Formaldehyde]

Nope. Twas a good ruling. Hope you're not disappointed.

Do I really sound like one of the homophobic congressmen who continue to deny homosexuals the rights they deserve? Or one of those Christians, who now even represent a minority in this country, who continue to wish to do so?

 

[timtofly]

Sorry! Sorrysorrysorry!

Was that a prediction that two judges would rule against Utah in one week?

 

[El_Machinae]

Do I really sound like one of the homophobic congressmen who continue to deny homosexuals the rights they deserve? Or one of those Christians, who now even represent a minority in this country, who continue to wish to do so?

No. Worst case, you come across like someone rarin' to rake someone over the coals for wanting to do so. If felt like you were 'fishing' for such an opportunity with VRWCagent.

 

[Farm Boy]

'bout time.

 

[Formaldehyde]

No. Worst case, you come across like someone rarin' to rake someone over the coals for wanting to do so. If felt like you were 'fishing' for such an opportunity with VRWCagent.

Then, unlike me, you apparently don't have any idea what his views on this matter are, despite him frequently posting them.

But I'm certainly not surprised to see you jumping to conclusions again.

 

[GenMarshall]

Wouldn't that be a real shame for homosexuals to finally have the same rights as everybody else in this particular regard?

My jimmies, remains unrustled.

 

[Arwon]

This is definitely going to be appealed up to the Supreme Court, probably will be a big 2014 or 2015 case.

Anthony Kennedy, despite being a business-friendly conservative justice, has been somewhat gay-friendly in the past. I would hazard a guess this decision has a decent chance of surviving the court.

Will it survive the 10th Circuit?

 

[JollyRoger]

I hope this doesn't get resolved Federally before I can find a client to troll the Texas Attorney General. He is of the opinion that a gay couple cannot get divorced in Texas because Texas does not recognize same sex marriage. I want to get a gay married client willing to apply for a straight marriage license and ask for an opinion letter from the Attorney General on if that is legal since Texas does not recognize the gay marriage.

 

[Arwon]

Hahahahahah the ruling took Scalia's dissents in Lawrence and Windsor at face value and cited them as support for striking down this ban.

 

[useless]

Hell Yeah. Also that Scalia thing is amazing. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.