Cincinnati—A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has upheld gay marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.
The appeals court judges split 2-1 in a decision that could cause the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in the hot-button issue. Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote the 42-page decision and Judge Deborah Cook concurred, delivering a ruling that runs counter to four other appellate rulings from the 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th circuits. Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey dissented.
“Kentuckians who submit both to the Lord and to government, as God’s word teaches, celebrate the court’s ruling,” said KBC Executive Director Paul Chitwood. “We are grateful to know that the constitution of our state has been affirmed and rejoice that the sanctity of marriage has been protected.
The Associated Press reported Nov. 6 that the judges concluded that individual states have the right to set rules for marriage.
The gay marriage issue, however, appears likely to return to the Supreme Court so the nation’s highest court can settle whether states can ban gay marriage or that gay and lesbian couples have a fundamental right to marry under the U.S. Constitution. (KBC)