Justice Ginsburg: 6th Circuit will dictate marriage equality timeline for Supreme Court

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On Monday, Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that people should look to the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision for answers as to when the US Supreme Court will weigh in on same-sex marriage.

While addressing the University of Minnesota Law School, Ginsburg said that the outcome of appeals in the 6th Circuit will more than likely influence the Supreme Court’s decision to take up same-sex marriage.

Ginsburg said if the court of appeals covering Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky rules in favor of same-sex marriage bans, there will be an urgency for the Supreme Court to step in and make a decision.

Her prediction is that such a ruling, being counter to the favorable trend toward same-sex marriage, would force the Supreme Court justices to step in sooner rather than later.

Without discussing any case in particular, Ginsburg said it was the openness of same-sex couples that has changed America’s perception toward the bans.

She said: “[It is] having people close to us who say who they are – that made the attitude change in this country.”

Recently, Justice Ginsburg officiated at the wedding of her former law clerk Danny Rubens and his partner Danny Grossman.

Same-sex marriage has been legalised in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Last year the Supreme Court ruled in favor of overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as between one man and one woman.

Recently, 32 states petitioned the Supreme Court to rule on same-sex marriage bans. The court has officially placed the cases on their agenda to be reviewed this September.

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