Supreme Court Sets Marriage Dates
For two days in late March, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the two cases before the high court regarding same-sex marriage, the justices announced Monday.
On March 26, the justices will hear Hollingsworth v. Perry, concerning California’s Proposition 8. Approved by California voters in 2008, Proposition 8 amending the state’s Constitution to ban same-sex marriage after already granting that right to same-sex couples.
On March 27, the justices will hear U.S. v. Windsor, concerning the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act. Several lower courts have struck down section 3 of DOMA, which forbids federal recognition of same-sex marriages and denies rights and benefits to same-sex couples enjoyed by straight couples, as unconstitutional.
When oral arguments on DOMA and Proposition 8 begin in March, it will likely be one of the most high profile Supreme Court cases in recent history. With about 150 first-come, first-serve public seats in the courtroom, the editors of SCOTUSblog predict some of the longest lines ever, forming as many as three days in advance.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings on the two cases in June.
[Photo: The Supreme Court building (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).]
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