Supreme Court Appeal Next In Gay Marriage Case
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A lawyer for two Detroit-area nurses who challenged Michigan's ban on gay marriage says they'll next go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Carole Stanyar spoke to The Associated Press after an appeals court reinstated the ban Thursday.
In a 2-1 decision, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a ruling that found the gay marriage ban unconstitutional, ruling that states have the right to set rules for marriage.
Stanyar said the legal team — ready for this possibility — already was drafting a possible appeal for the Supreme Court
WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reported Thursday's ruling came as a surprise to some.
"The interesting thing about this decision is that it is contrary to other appellate courts around the country which have ruled, basically, the bans in those states were illegal, this opening the door to gay marriage," Skubick said.
More than 300 couples were married in four counties on a Saturday in March after Detroit federal Judge Bernard Friedman declared Michigan's gay marriage ban — approved by voters in 2004 — unconstitutional.
Laura Quinn from Royal Oak, the first to marry her partner in March of this year during a brief window in which gay marriage was legalized, said she is very disappointed.
"I guess perplexed is the best word — shocked," Quinn said, in an interview with WWJ Newsradio 950's Zahra Huber. "I don't understand why the current — I guess the best word: trend — is that 31 places right now, states, where we can be married...I guess this just makes you wonder why."
She added, "Everybody is gonna look back on this, you know, many years from now and kinda wonder, why did this even happen?"
Gov. Rick Snyder issued a statement regarding decision on same-sex marriage.
"The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the language in our state's constitution. This means there is no change in Michigan's marriage laws. As I have previously stated, the same-sex couples who married at county clerk offices in the period between U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman's ruling in March and the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' temporary stay of that ruling, were legally married.
Attorney General Bill Schuette, who defended the ban in Friedman's court, is all for the Supreme Court settling the issue.
"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has ruled, and Michigan's constitution remains in full effect," said Schuette, in a statement. "As I have stated repeatedly, the U.S. Supreme Court will have the final word on this issue. The sooner they rule, the better, for Michigan and the country."
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) praised a ruling from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding marriage amendments in four states that define marriage solely as the union of one man and one woman.
"We have been awaiting this decision for some time and welcome it not only as a tremendous victory, but as a common sense recognition that it is not for the federal courts to substitute their judgment about whether same-sex 'marriage' is a good idea or not, but to leave it to the people to make the decision about this fundamental institution," said Brian Brown, president of NOM.
Equality Michigan, the statewide anti-violence and advocacy organization serving Michigan's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV affected communities, has been "working to bring marriage equality to Michigan for over a decade."
"We are disappointed that two members of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals are ignoring the will of Americans by upholding Michigan's unconstitutional ban on the freedom to marry for LGBTQ families," Executive Director Emily Dievendorf said. "Michiganders are overwhelming in support of joining the 32 states which already have the freedom to marry, and while these delays make our work harder, our victory is no less achievable.
"I promise that the freedom to marry will be a reality for all Michiganders."
Dievendorf spoke with WWJ and said that Equality Michigan plans to campaign to put the issue on 2016 ballot.
MORE: US Appeals Court Upholds Gay Marriage Bans In Michigan, 3 Other States
TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
