Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Files Opposition To Lifting Stay On Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi

As expected, Attorney General for Florida - Pam Bondi - has filed a brief in opposition of lifting a stay on a ruling which would allow same-sex marriage to begin.

The stay in question was set to expire today. Bondi filed at pretty much the last minute.

From Equality Florida:

Earlier this month the US Supreme Court paved the way for marriages for same-sex couples to commence in 13 states by refusing to hear appeals of five circuit court rulings that found state bans unconstitutional. The ACLU and lawyers for plaintiffs in a concurrent case immediately asked Judge Hinkle to lift the stay he put in place in January when he declared the ban a violation of equal protection and due process.

On two occasions in the past month, the United States Courts for the 9th Circuit lifted a stay while decisions on marriage equality in Idaho and Alaska are appealed. The U.S. Supreme Court also refused to order the court to keep the stay in place while appeals continue, despite appeals from the defense. Both the Circuit Court and the U.S. Supreme Court stated that they will not make couples wait to marry while appeals are pending.

“Even if she continues to pursue an appeal, Attorney General Bondi should not hold our state and our families hostage by calling for the stay to remain in place. Should she choose to appeal, let her follow the lead of the 9th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court and allow marriages to commence. Every day that Floridians are denied access to the protections only marriage can provide, our families suffer," added Smith.

See the full brief below:

4:14-cv-00107 #92 - Florida Opposition to Lifting Stay by Equality Case Files