Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Same-Sex Marriage Bans In Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has just issued a ruling upholding the bans on same-sex marriage in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

The oral arguments, held on August 6th, looked as if this might be the case. The ruling comes as a split 2-1 decision, with Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton writing the majority opinion. Sutton was widely viewed as the "swing vote" among the three judges who heard oral arguments.

The 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeal have all ruled that bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.

The US Supreme Court recently declined requests for appeal from Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia. Justice Ginsburg later said that since all federal appellate courts were in agreement, there was no pressing need for SCOTUS review. The ruling today makes it much more urgent for SCOTUS to weigh in now that the 6th Circuit becomes the first federal appellate court to disagree with prior appeals court rulings.

At present, 33 states plus the District of Columbia have marriage equality.

More soon. Read the ruling below:

14-1341 #184 6th Circuit Decision in Marriage Cases by Equality Case Files