Lawyers argue that Michigan will lose business if gay marriage ban remains

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Lawyers acting on behalf of the plaintiffs in a case to have the same-sex marriage ban struck down in Michigan have argued that the state will lose business if it remains.

In an eighteen page ruling, lawyers acting on behalf of April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, argued that allowing the same-sex marriage ban to remain would create a “brain drain”, and affect businesses coming into the state.

Not long after a judge declared Michigan’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional last week, an appeals court issued a stay against the ruling.

Ruling on Friday, US District Judge Bernard Friedman suggested that upholding a ban on same-sex marriage would be unfair to the children of gay couples, and said it was unconstitutional.

However, clerks in Michigan were then told to cease issuing marriage licenses to hundreds of same-sex couples after a motion of stay once more temporarily reinstated the ban.

Attorneys acting on behalf of April DeBoer, and Jayne Rowse on Tuesday filed a response to the stay, also arguing that the suspension of Judge Friedman’s Friday ruling was inappropriate.

The lawyers asserted that the stay should be immediately removed, and that same-sex marriages should be allowed to immediately resume.

The US 6th Circuit Court announced at the weekend: “To allow a more reasoned consideration of the motion to stay, it is ordered that the district court’s judgment is temporarily stayed until Wednesday.”

A ruling is expected as soon as Tuesday night on the case.

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