Posted on 09/02/2004 8:50:19 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Louisiana Supreme Court has been asked to take up legal challenges aimed at keeping a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriages and civil unions off the Sept. 18 ballot.
On Thursday, a court clerk initially said it had refused to take the appeals, but later said that report was in error and no decision had been made.
Three separate lawsuits were filed on behalf of a group called Forum for Equality, arguing that the "Defense of Marriage" amendment is unconstitutional because it would deprive unmarried couples — gay or straight — of the right to enter into certain contracts. Supporters of the ban disagree.
All three suits, so far unsuccessful at removing the amendment from the ballot, are now pending before the high court which has not decided whether to hear the appeals.
The amendment, passed by state lawmakers earlier this year, would also ban state officials and courts from recognizing out-of-state marriages and civil unions between homosexuals.
The legal battle had focused on technical arguments, including whether any election can be challenged before it takes place and whether the amendment illegally promotes more than one objective — banning both same-sex marriages and civil unions. Constitutional amendments are required to deal with a single topic.
Also Wednesday, the North Dakota secretary of state's office announced that supporters of an amendment banning gay marriage had gathered enough signatures to force a November vote.
A petition circulated by the North Dakota Family Alliance had 42,093 legal signatures, considerably more than the 25,688 needed to put the idea on the November ballot, Secretary of State Al Jaeger said.
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Must keep an eye on the courts of the Cajun State.
America = Land Where the People are ruled by the courts.
Whoever can buy the most expensive lawyers makes the law.
Legislature and will of the people be damned!
In Michigan, there was going to be a referendum on affirmitive action. It would have passed easily, making the practice illegal.
The ACLU and the usual culprits filed a lawsuit saying that the wording of the referendum does not explicitly say that people are going to be denied their rights. It was complte BS. Actually, they filed several such lawsuits, one of them clicked, and the referendum was thrown out.
"Three separate lawsuits were filed on behalf of a group called Forum for Equality, arguing that the "Defense of Marriage" amendment is unconstitutional because it would deprive unmarried couples — gay or straight — of the right to enter into certain contracts. Supporters of the ban disagree. "
So an amendment to a constitution can be unconstitutional?
NOT IF IT BECOMES PART OF THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF!!!!
How lame.
I'll be shocked if the La. Supreme court comes out with a pro-gay decision.
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