Bondi Moves for Fast Decision over Same-Sex Marriage in Florida
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Summary: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a petition to the Florida Supreme Court on Monday night asking for speedy and decisive disposal of the issues over the legality of same-sex marriage in the state. As the state's attorney general, Bondi had earlier supported Flordia's 2008 gay marriage ban in the courts.
After losing in Monroe County and Miami-Dade Circuit, Bondi took both cases to the Miami-based 3rd District Court of Appeal and consolidated the cases there. Though the lawyers of the plaintiffs asked the Florida Supreme Court to hear the cases immediately, Bondi delayed on the grounds that similar petitions from other states were pending hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court, and it would be prudent to wait until the apex court of the country decided the issue.
However, after the US Supreme Court's recent refusal to intervene in the matter of state bans and same-sex marriages, Bondi wrote, "Florida's courts will therefore need to resolve the issue without further United States Supreme Court guidance." Her filing to the Florida Supreme Court also pressed urgency, "Because there are cases pending in multiple districts, and because this is an issue of great public importance that now warrants immediate Florida Supreme Court review." Bondi asked for quick "pass-through certification."
The Sacramento Bee reported that before things reach a conclusion, the 3rd District Court of Appeal would have to agree to send the case to the Florida Supreme Court and the justices at the Florida Supreme Court will also need to agree to hear the matter.
As of now, the state ban against same-sex marriages has failed on merits before every court of law, but the orders of lower courts striking down the ban has been stayed pending decisions and appeals to upper courts.
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