Appeals court allows Nebraska gay marriage ban to stand

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: AP

OMAHA, Neb. — A federal appeals court on Thursday allowed Nebraska's ban on gay marriage to stay in place, blocking a federal judge's order for the state to begin recognizing gay marriages and civil unions.

The decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means that Nebraska's ban will continue until an appeal in the case is decided. Had the appeals court denied the request, Nebraska would have been ordered to recognize gay marriages and civil unions starting Monday.

The appeals court did not give a reason for its decision to stay the judge's ruling. But the 8th Circuit did order the appeal in Nebraska's case to be argued on May 12 along with three other states — Arkansas, Missouri and South Dakota — defending gay marriage bans.

The appeals court decision came two days after Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson filed a motion to put on hold U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon's ruling last Monday striking down Nebraska's gay marriage ban.

Peterson had argued that the state should not be forced to recognize gay marriages until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry everywhere in the U.S. The Supreme Court announced Thursday that it will hear arguments over same-sex marriage on April 28. A decision is expected before July.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/03/06/3729655/appeals-court-allows-nebraska.html#storylink=cpy

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. These idiots have to be DRAGGED into the 21st century.

[marmar]

2. Troglodytes

[LuvNewcastle]

3. The.re is one good thing about this case.

Hopefully it will force the SC to make a clear decision. I've been afraid that they'll make some sort of vague ruling that can be interpreted in a million different ways. Whatever they decide, it needs to be up or down. No half measures will do.

[davidpdx]

4. You are right

I think they will have to at this point. It has been very rare that a decision is stayed in these cases. Hopefully the appeal fails and all they bought themselves is four more months of dreaming that things are going to go their way only to go down in flames.

[uppityperson]

5. Sigh for Nebraskans and hoping the SCOTUS makes their decision clear and doesn't take too long to do

it.

[Cryptoad]

6. if teh federal court in Alabama

had arrested the Alabama Supreme Court on contempt charges.... maybe this would not have happened!