No Word From SCOTUS On Same-Sex Marriage Cases

No word from the US Supreme Court today on whether or not the high court will take up one of five same-sex marriage cases submitted for review.

In October, the justices turned down similar petitions in a series of other same-sex marriage cases, but many observers expected the court to announce action on the new set of petitions Friday because of a split that developed among federal appeals courts late last year

That divergence occurred in November when the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals found no federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage. That decision parted company with the 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th Circuits, all of which held there is such a right.

In October, SCOTUS chose not to review any cases because at that time all appellate courts were in agreement. Now, with the 6th Circuit, that's not the situation.

The justices could decide to pick any or all of the cases, or none. OR - could choose to wait a while before making the decision.

The justices are looking at cases from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana.

Currently 36 states plus the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage. Approximately 70% of Americans live in states with the freedom to marry.