Boston Maine
Boston and Maine 77 September 28, 2011
Court: no action yet on same-sex marriage (KSAT)
The Supreme Court took no action Friday on a pending series of appeals over
the divisive issue of same-sex marriage.
The justices had a closed-door conference to consider whether to accept for
review several challenges to federal and state laws restricting the ability of
gay and lesbian couples to legally wed.
But the court, without explanation, had nothing to report on the pending
appeals. It was perhaps a sign it needed more time to consider the complex
legal and constitutional questions.
If the high court has merely delayed consideration of the same-sex marriage
cases, it may be prepared to revisit them as early as next Friday, when the
justices hold another private conference.
The political, social, and legal stakes of this long-simmering debate would
once again put the high court at the center of national attention, a
contentious encore to its summer ruling upholding the massive health care
reform law championed by President Barack Obama.
Three separate issues on same-sex marriage confront the justices, including
federal benefits, state benefits and state referendums.
Although there was no certainty the court was prepared to announce it would be
tackling the issue, there was building anticipation among advocacy groups on
both sides ...
