The domino effect of the US Supreme Court's decision to NOT review any of the same-sex marriage rulings from appellate courts has become apparent as states under the jurisdiction of those courts now are bound by the Circuit Court rulings.
That includes South Carolina, who is covered under the jurisdiction of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals who held that Virginia's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional.
However, South Carolina Governor Haley and Attorney General Wilson continue to apply the marriage ban as if nothing had happened.
So....
Today Lambda Legal, in partnership with South Carolina Equality, filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court of South Carolina arguing that South Carolina is obligated to allow same-sex couples to marry.
"The Fourth Circuit's decision means that same-sex couples in South Carolina should be shopping for a caterer, not a lawyer. Governor Haley and Attorney General Wilson cannot continue to ignore the rule of law. Fortunately, they have run out of cards to play - we're urging the court to allow same-sex couples in South Carolina to marry without any further delay," said Beth Littrell, Senior Attorney in Lambda Legal's Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. "The state doesn't have any credible arguments for a court in South Carolina to entertain."
"The Governor and Attorney General are playing politics with our families and it's shameful," said South Carolina Equality lawyer Nekki Shutt, partner at Callison Tighe & Robinson. "Instead of celebrating and planning weddings, same-sex couples all over South Carolina are holding their collective breath - and they have been waiting long enough."
(via press release)
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