US: Supreme Court justices meet to consider taking up gay marriage cases

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All of the Supreme Court justices will today meet privately today in order to discuss whether they should take up cases challenging state same-sex marriage bans.

The nine justices will consider whether they should take up the question of whether states have the right to ban gay and lesbian couples from marrying.

Seven cases referring to five US states are currently pending before the US Supreme Court. They concern Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia, Utah and Oklahoma.

Should the court take up one or more of the cases, it could make a ruling applying to the states which ban same-sex marriage, the number of which stands at 31.

No announcement is expected today, but it may become clear later this week or at a later point.

Justices must vote on whether or not to take up the cases, and if four or more justices vote for a case, it will be heard.

The Supreme Court officially reconvenes next Monday for a new term.