US: Federal appeals court agrees to hear same-sex marriage cases in 3 states
A further three states which are defending their same-sex marriage bans will have their cases heard by a federal appeals court this spring.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday agreed to hear the appeal from South Dakota.
The case will be heard at an expedited pace.
As well as hearing South Dakota’s arguments, the state’s Attorney General Marty Jackley said arguments from Arkansas and Missouri will also be heard as part of a combined case.
The three states are all appealing against federal judges’ decisions to overturn same-sex marriage bans there. All three states plan to work together to maintain their marriage bans.
The 8th Circuit, based in St Louis, will heard the arguments in the week of 11 May in Omaha, Nebraska.
The US Suprmeme Court has also agreed to hear arguments in separate same-sex marriage cases in April, and may make a decision by June about same-sex marriage nationwide.
