Utah Pays Out to SSM Plaintiffs

by Brig Bagley

26 November 2014

The state of Utah has agreed to pay the legal fees for the lawyers that represented the plaintiffs in the two cases regarding SSM in Utah. These lawyers knew there was a possibility that either they would lose the case, or that the state would refuse to pay the legal fees upon a win. To their satisfaction, Utah has settled with $95K, nearly half of the $200K request. In addition, Utah will be obligated to recognize SSM indefinitely, unless the SCOTUS overturns the ruling in the future.

This means that in addition to the $200K the state spent on fighting same-sex marriage, it now has spent $95K, totaling $295,000 of tax-payer money going to the cases concerning SSM. On the plus side, the issue is finally resolved in Utah. Any changes (very unlikely) would be a result of federal intervention.

Read more here: http://fox13now.com/2014/11/25/utah-same-sex-marriage-cases-officially-over-after-legal-fees-settled/

Montana Receives Equality in Marriage

by Brig Bagley

20 November 2014

Montana residents are now free to marry without regard to gender. Since the 9th District Court has already ruled in favor of SSM, and the US Supreme Court did not take up any of its cases, there is no hold on the ruling and marriage licenses could be issues immediately. The state may appeal to the 9th Court, but whether it will or not is not yet known.

Read more here: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/federal-judge-strikes-down-montana-marriage-ban

All States in District 6 Appeal Federal Court Decision

by Brig Bagley

20 November 2014

The plaintiffs in Michigan and Kentucky fighting for SSM joined with Tennessee and Ohio to file appeals to the 6th Circuit court decision that upheld discriminatory bans against gay marriage. 

The Supreme Court of the US is under no obligation to take the appeals, but is likely to get involved with this new split in court decisions.

Read more here: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/all-four-states-in-sixth-circuit-have-filed-appeals-to-supreme-court

Utah's SSM Plaintiffs Seek Attorney Fees from Utah

by Brig Bagley

12 November 2014

Now that the dust has settled from the Kitchen vs. Herbert case and its following sister case, the plaintiffs are asking the state of Utah to cover their attorney fees. Utah has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting marriage equality. The plaintiff attorneys are demanding extra recompense for the case, despite their initial agreement to work for free. Several fundraisers were thrown to help pay for the plaintiff's case and cover as much as possible for the help of the attorneys fighting for marriage equality. 

The Utah attorney general's office consider the request unreasonable. The courts involved in the cases will need to rule as to who is responsible for the fees.

Read more here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=32304102

South Carolina Sees Marriage Equality

by Brig Bagley

12 November 2014

South Carolina succeeded in its quest for marriage equality. A statement in the ruling reads:

“The truth is, laws prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying serve no purpose other than to harm Americans who simply want to protect and provide for themselves and their families. Ultimately the U.S. Constitution does not allow states to continue discriminating against committed and loving gay and lesbian couples.”

The dominoes continue to fall, even if slowly.

Read more here: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/federal-judge-strikes-down-south-carolina-marriage-banz

Missouri First for Marriage Equality in 8th District

by Brig Bagley

10 November 2014

Another win for equality in Missouri. This is the first federal ruling on the issue in the 8th District.

Polls continue to show increases in support for marriage equality across the country. Although localized states may still be against it, a popular vote does not trump what is unconstitutional.

Read more here: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/federal-judge-strikes-down-missouri-ban-on-marriage-equality

6th Circuit Court Upholds Anti-Gay Legislation

by Brig Bagley

10 November 2014

The first of several federal circuit courts to break the trend, the 6th Circuit Court upholds bans on Same-Sex Marriage in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. With this split in federal court decisions, it becomes more likely and more important for the US Supreme Court to weigh in.

The decision was a split 2-1 in favor of the ban. The majority opinion stated that states have the right to determine the requirements and restrictions for marriage. This includes the ability to do so at the expense of many same-sex couples.

The plaintiffs can decide to appeal to the full 6th circuit court, or directly to the SCOTUS.

Read more here: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/shameful-sixth-circuit-decision-upholds-discriminatory-marriage-bans

Republicans Reign over Senate and House

by Brig Bagley

5 November 2014

The elections yesterday ended in a super win for republicans. Now a majority of republicans in both the House and the Senate, President Obama faces great opposition. We will see more republican legislation pass in both the house and the senate, as well as Obama using his veto often. The republican agenda will repeal much of Obama's healthcare act, add more corporate kick-backs, and cut many other government-spending programs. Obama will also face difficulty in lifetime judicial appointments, especially in the US Supreme Court.

Although the opposition in the legislative and executive branches will most certainly rise, checks and balances will continue to rule the country. It will be an interesting two years for Obama's final term as president. Since it is common for the parties to take turns in the White House, we may face a republican super majority in all areas of government in 2016--a complete switch from democratic control in 2009.

Read more here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=757&sid=32215837

Religion is Taking Over Politics

by Brig Bagley

5 November 2014

Polls and numbers are seeing religion as one of the highest motivators for political involvement in voters in the last few years. A majority of republican voters are weekly church-goers. Although non-white religious voters overwhelmingly vote democrat, the number of republicans in office now have churches to thank.

The IRS forbids churches from endorsing political candidates at the pulpit, but even so, a rise from 30 in 2008 to 1,600 this year did so anyway. Church leaders are expected to encourage members to be politically active and vote their conscience, but recommending specific candidates is political fraud.

The IRS isn't expected to enforce the rule currently, but it appears that church leaders want it to happen. Because religion is becoming the main motivator to vote for or against certain people and policies, churches want to fight to be directly involved. If the IRS punishes churches, they will take the issue to the Supreme Court. If the laws are struck down, churches could have the freedom to be as politically involved as they please.

If the religious movement in bipartisan voting continues as it does, the US could resemble more of a theocracy than a democratic republic.

Read more here: http://national.deseretnews.com/article/2698/how-the-religious-voted-in-2014.html

Kansas is Last State to Strike Down SSM Ban in 10th District

by Brig Bagley

5 November 2014

Yesterday, a federal judge struck down Kansas' ban on SSM, making it the final state in the 10th District Circuit to do so. Kansas has a week to appeal the decision (which was put on hold), for which the state Attorney General plans to do. Since the 10th District Court has already affirmed that the bans were unconstitutional for both Utah and Oklahoma, they will likely not take the case. Similarly with the US Supreme Court when the state again appeals to it. However, it is not guaranteed.

The appeals process will make Kansas wait even longer to appreciate the freedom to marry irrespective of gender. But the writing is on the wall... each state will go through this process and legalization of SSM will come around one state at a time.

Read more here: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/judge-strikes-down-kansas-gay-marriage-ban