Posted on 06/30/2013 6:14:06 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Supporters of California's Proposition 8 petitioned U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, seeking an immediate halt to same-sex marriages that have been taking place in the state since an appeals court lifted the ban on Friday.
Attorneys filed an emergency petition to the Supreme Court to stop the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal's "premature move" requiring same-sex marriage licenses in California before the Supreme Court's decision even goes into effect, Prop. 8's official sponsor ProtectMarriage and Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom said in separate statements on Saturday.
On Friday, soon after the appeals court dissolved a stay imposed on Prop 8, a California voter-approved amendment of 2008 that defined marriage as between one man and one woman, two same-sex couples who had petitioned the Supreme Court against the measure rushed to marry.
Gov. Jerry Brown's office issue a statement almost immediately after the appeals court's ruling, saying, "At the direction of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., the California Department of Public Health has notified clerks and registrar/recorders in all 58 California counties that same-sex marriage is now legal in California and that marriage licenses must be issued to same-sex couples immediately."
Attorney General Kamala Harris had urged the appeals court for prompt action, promising she would ensure that all counties in California were prepared to issue licenses to gay couples, according to The Associated Press.
Same-sex marriages were also conducted throughout Saturday.
According to Supreme Court procedural rules, "final disposition" comes when the Supreme Court issues a "mandate" to the Ninth Circuit, at least 25 days after announcing its opinion in the case, ProtectMarriage said in its statement Saturday. "The 25-day waiting period is provided to allow parties such as Prop 8's proponents to petition the Supreme Court for a re-hearing of the case."
"Everyone on all sides of the marriage debate should agree that the legal process must be followed," said Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Austin R. Nimocks. "The 9th Circuit made a clear representation upon which all parties should be able to rely – that the stay would remain in place until final disposition by the Supreme Court," he added. "On Friday, the 9th Circuit acted contrary to its own order without explanation. Last year, the 9th Circuit itself reminded all parties to the Proposition 8 case that the 'integrity of our judicial system depends in no small part on the ability of litigants and members of the public to rely on a judge's word.' We agree."
Andy Pugno, General Counsel for ProtectMarriage, said, "We hope the Supreme Court will step in and restore some order here."
The application, filed by attorneys of Alliance Defending Freedom, stated that the Ninth Circuit's June 28 order purporting to dissolve the stay of the district court's injunction "is the latest in a long line of judicial irregularities that have unfairly thwarted Petitioners' defense of California's marriage amendment … Failing to correct the appellate court's actions threatens to undermine the public's confidence in its legal system."
The American Foundation for Equal Rights, which supports same-sex marriage, also issued a statement, saying, "Now that the Supreme Court has decided that the injunction against Proposition 8 must stand, it was entirely appropriate for the 9th circuit to dissolve its stay of that injunction."
However, Nimocks said their clients have not been given the time to make their next decision in the legal process. "The more than 7 million Californians that voted to enact Proposition 8 deserve nothing short of the full respect and due process our judicial system provides."
Currently, 12 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage.
I fail to see how the court can rule on a case while not allowing one side to be defended. This would be like a criminal trial where the defendant was not allowed a lawyer and not allowed to speak.
Government by the Court, of the Court and for the Court shall not perish from the rainbow.
To what end? the Supreme Court has essentially stated that “We the people” have no standing in cases where the “elected” refuse to defend the legislation passed with a majority vote, if it does not meet their liking.
California has been lawless for may years. The Democrats are total communists orientated and will never give up the power. California has become the communists breeding ground of America.
As I read the SCOTUS decision the pro Prop 8 people had no standing so they wouldn’t have had standing to bring the case to court. There shouldn’t be any Federal Decision. If no decision no stay to allow for appeal. The last decision standing is California’s Supreme Court.
The decision pretty much guts the initiative process if the Governor and Attorney General are supporters of the other side. Refuse to defend the law passedby iniative and side supporting it wins by default.
exactly!
the TRUE outrage here is that the PEOPLE are never given standing to challenge any of these things, whether it’s Obama’s birth certificate or gay marriage in California, this issue of “standing” is the real problem.
We the PEOPLE, should ALWAYS be assumed to have standing!
Thanks SeekAndFind. Pedophila ping.
Actually, and procedurally, there was no ruling here. The 9th Circuit just lifted it’s injunction which it has the authority to do at any time. It could have done it while the case was pending before SCOTUS. So it’s not a hearing or anything of that nature. It’s mere “house keeping” as it were.
Merely an FYI. Not taking a pro-position on the merits of the SCOTUS decision by any means.
Agreed. The GOP is forever dead in CA. The demographic shift is it’s own type of coup.
Doesn't the Constitution guarantee the states a republican form of government? Article IV, Section 4: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government". How is it a republican form of government where the governor can thwart a constitutional amendment legally passed by the voters of the state simply by not defending something he doesn't agree with?
I doubt that the Supreme Court would grant emergency ruling.
Let’s face facts: there is 5-4 split in favor of gay anything at the Supreme Court. I am surprised that other sex deviate cases aren’t being filed at the altar of “equality” for every conceivable sexual combination presently outlawed by state statues.
Socialist change bump
“The decision pretty much guts the initiative process ...”
I thought the same thing, but upon reflection it may not be quite that bad. Say for instance old Uncle Jerry decided to ignore Prop 13. Even a single homeowner would be injured in that case, so they would have standing in court.
I think.
Generally, republican government is where the people's authority is exercised through their representatives, not directly by ballot initiatives.
I would think that any county clerk who has just been ordered to start issuing same sex marriage licences would have standing to file a new lawsuit. They were not parties in the last suit and there now is no appellate decision affirming what the district court decided in the last suit.
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