Another US court rules against Defense of Marriage Act
October 18, 2012
For the 2nd time, a federal appeals court has ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, setting the stage for an inevitable test of the landmark legislation at the US Supreme Court.
The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, following the lead of its counterpart in Boston, said that the federal law, passed in 1996, denies homosexual couples their rights. The Obama administration has refused to defend the law against court challenges.
The Defense of Marriage Act was designed to protect states from being required to recognize same-sex unions formalized in other jurisdictions, and to block federal recognition for same-sex marriages. Six American states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Iowa) already recognize same-sex marriages, as does the District of Columbia. Four more states (Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington) will vote in November on proposals to legalize same-sex marriage.
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Posted by: unum -
Oct. 19, 2012 6:44 AM ET USA
The ruling is no surprise because of the failure of the Obama administration to defend the constitutionality of the Act. (This is just one more example of the President's blatant disregard for our Constitution.) But, it is certain that the appellate court decisions will be appealed to the Supreme Court where the final decision on constitutionality will be made.
