what did Scalia and Thomas write?
An excerpt from Scalia’s dissent:
“Todays decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court.”
No union is more profound than marriage, Kennedy wrote, joined by the courts four more liberal justices.
From their beginning to their most recent page, the annals of human history reveal the transcendent importance of marriage. The lifelong union of a man and a woman always has promised nobility and dignity to all persons, without regard to their station in life. Marriage is sacred to those who live by their religions and offers unique fulfillment to those who find meaning in the secular realm. Its dynamic allows two people to find a life that could not be found alone, for a marriage becomes greater than just the two persons. Rising from the most basic human needs, marriage is essential to our most profound hopes and aspirations, Kennedy wrote.
Kennedy also wrote the courts previous three major gay rights cases dating back to 1996. It came on the anniversary of two of those earlier decisions.
Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented, and all wrote separate dissents.
Alito wrote, Todays decision usurps the constitutional right of the people to decide whether to keep or alter the traditional understanding of marriage.
Roberts said gay marriage supporters should celebrate, but dont celebrate the Constitution.
If you are among the many Americansof whatever sexual orientationwho favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate todays decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it, Roberts wrote.
Scalia wrote his dissent to call attention to this Courts threat to American democracy.
Todays decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court. The opinion in these cases is the furthest extension in factand the furthest extension one can even imagineof the Courts claimed power to create liberties that the Constitution and its Amendments neglect to mention. This practice of constitutional revision by an unelected committee of nine, always accompanied (as it is today) by extravagant praise of liberty, robs the People of the most important liberty they asserted in the Declaration of Independence and won in the Revolution of 1776: the freedom to govern themselves, Scalia wrote.
Thomas wrote, Aside from undermining the political processes that protect our liberty, the majoritys decision threatens the religious liberty our Nation has long sought to protect.