June 20th, 2013
The Supreme Court did not deliver rulings on the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act or California’s Proposition 8 today. The next date for the announcement of rulings is Monday, June 24.
Monday is the last scheduled day of this year’s calendar, though the Supreme Court could schedule another day of their choosing. And while such an additional day would be expected to be within the week, as SCOTUS has neither a boss nor any constitutional restrictions, they could drag this out as long as they wish.
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Charles
June 20th, 2013
Well, that is a good day for the rulings to come down. I will be at my doctor’s office for my annual physical.
Jim Hlavac
June 20th, 2013
I wonder if they realize they’re waiting until the 40th Anniversary of America’s largest unsolved murder mystery: the arson which killed 32 gay men in New Orleans’ Upstair Lounge —
I wonder if anyone in the LGBT community even knows about the conflagration?
Or, maybe the court will wait until the 27th, and Stonewall — to either give us peace — or slap us in the face?
hmm, the mysteries of the court.
Charles
June 20th, 2013
Did the court every rule on the gay panic defense strategy that was used some idiots……. or, did it just go out of vogue?
Hyhybt
June 20th, 2013
Box Turtle readers know, of course. Thank y’all again for the daily history lesson.
The question is, why would the court wish to drag this out? A short delay, say, until July or August, doesn’t provide any obvious advantage. A long one, say, until 2016 when public opinion is more settled and another handful of states have flipped on their own, might be, but that would be cruel and why take the cases at all?
Timothy Kincaid
June 20th, 2013
Hyhybt,
I’m sorry if I gave the impression that the Court is delaying on purpose. They probably are just tying down last minute wording changes.
By “drag this out as long as they wish”, I just meant that they can do whatever they want when it comes to announcements.
But it sure feels like it’s being dragged out forever to me.
Robert
June 20th, 2013
Has anyone else read the NYT piece on Ken Mehlman? I am suprised there isn’t anything on this site about it. It correlates quite nicely with other topics on hand today…
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/us/strategist-out-of-closet-and-into-fray-this-time-for-gay-marriage.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnl=1&hpw&adxnnlx=1371732409-FFiOhcYzBfRnp5nnGSmQoA&
Robert
June 20th, 2013
Charles,
It is still alegal defense acceptable, but the American Bar Association is in the process of possibly banning it as a defense. Other sites have talked about it since it’s in the news this month.
http://www.queerty.com/american-bar-association-considers-banning-gay-panic-defense-20130604/
Charles
June 20th, 2013
Robert, thanks for the link and information. I am glad that the ABA is doing something about it.
Charles
June 20th, 2013
Robert, thanks for the link to the NYT piece on Ken Mehlman, too. As I have come to say, life is really a soap opera.
kevin
June 21st, 2013
All due respect to Ken Melhman,he can pound sand.
The damage he helped inflict on the LGBT community will take a long time to fix and all those who suffered because of the bans..some things can’t be forgiven.
Mark F.
June 21st, 2013
They won’t delay a ruling until 2016, but they could possibly wait until this October. Still, I expect a ruling this Monday.
jerry
June 21st, 2013
Robert, I read the Times article on Mehlman and quite a few of the comments to the piece. I came to the conclusion that among those choosing to comment Mehlman will have a very small circle of friends.
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