Supreme Court Grants Four Petitions to Review 6th Circuit’s Marriage Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on January 16, 2015, that it was granting four petitions to review the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in DeBoer v. Snyder, 772 F.3d 388 (Nov. 6, 2014), which had rejected the claim that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and to have such marriages recognized by other states.  The 6th Circuit’s ruling, issued on November 6 on appeals by four states from district court pro-marriage equality … <Read More>


Federal Judge Refuses to Stay Her Tennessee Marriage Recognition Order as New Marriage Equality Drama Plays Out in Oregon

In a gutsy move, U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger has rejected a request by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to stay her order requiring the state to recognize the out-of-state same-sex marriages of three Tennessee couples while Haslam appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Trauger issued a short opinion explaining why on March 20.

Trauger had issued her order in Tanco v. Haslam on March 14, finding that the plaintiffs … <Read More>


Tennessee Federal Judge Orders State to Recognize Three Same-Sex Marriages

U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger signed an order in Tanco v. Haslam, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33463, on March 14 directing the state of Tennessee to recognize the same-sex marriages of three couples while their lawsuit is being considered by the court. Granting a motion for preliminary relief filed by the couples’ attorneys, Abby Rubenfeld of Nashville and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Judge Trauger concluded that it was likely that the plaintiffs … <Read More>