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It's On! The Supreme Court Agrees To Take Up Marriage Equality Cases

The Supreme Court indicated today it will hear four marriage-equality cases this term. The cases—from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee—will be consolidated and heard together. In theory the justices could hear oral arguments in April and render a verdict by late June, just in time for Pride.

NPR reports:

The court said it would hear arguments for 2 1/2 hours in April on two questions: first, whether the constitutional guarantee to equal protection of the law renders invalid state bans on same-sex marriage. And, second, whether states are required to recognize the marriage of a same-sex couple who marry legally in another state.

While the Supreme Court has demurred for some time—declining to hear appeals to cases striking down bans in Virginia, Indiana, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Utah back in October—experts say the justices had little choice after the 6th Circuit upheld four states' marriage bans in November.

Ironically, having SCOTUS weigh in is the one thing supporters and opponents the freedom to marry have in common. After the high court's ruling, not so much.

The last time the Supreme Court addressed the issue was in 2013, when it struck down California's Prop 8 and dismantled the Defense of Marriage Act. The hope is the court will act in the same vein this time.

Currently 36 states and the District of Columbia offer same-sex couples the right to marry. A South Dakota judge recently ruled that state's ban unconstitutional, but put a stay in place during the appeals process.

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