When will SCOTUS take up same-sex marriage? Justice Ginsburg hinted that the decision of the 6th Circuit Court would provide the answer to that question. "People seeking clues about how soon the Supreme Court might weigh in on states' gay marriage bans should pay close attention to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told a Minnesota audience Tuesday. Ginsburg said cases pending before the circuit covering Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee would probably play a role in the high court's timing. She said "there will be some urgency" if that appeals court allows same-sex marriage bans to stand. Such a decision would run contrary to a legal trend favoring gay marriage and force the Supreme Court to step in sooner, she predicted. She said if the appeals panel falls in line with other rulings there is "no need for us to rush." So basically, if the court upholds the bans, it is very likely SCOTUS will rule sooner.
I noted this story before...but it's good to bring up again. Ginsberg is being pretty clear (as clear as a Justice can be)....two scenarios- 1. The Sixth strikes down the gay marriage bans in ntucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.......so the US Supreme Court simply lets the ruling stand and offers no ruling of its own. OR 2. The Sixth upholds the bans....and she's clearly saying the USSC will be forced to step in and rule against the Sixth and strike down the bans. Either way the homophobes lose....it just depends if it continues to be incremental and state-by-state from the Appeals courts....or a quick ending from the USSC. At this point I think the anti-gay rights guys hope it's Scenario #1. That way they can keep pretending they "can still win it, if the US Supreme Court overturns the lower court rulings"....even if they just lose at a slightly slower pace.
