Originally posted by Benjamin Awesome! Does that mean the other 24 states will be forced to legalise? Great news for American gays.

Originally posted by LuLuDrops It means that all states under that circuit (western USA) have no other option but to apply to the Supreme Court for a review if they want to keep the bans. States can either ask the Supreme Court to pause any action or drop their appeal and if a local judge rules in favor of couples then the states can start marrying people. The verdict only directly affects Idaho/Nevada so Montana/Alaska/Arizona have to wait until a judge from that state gives the green light for marriage equality.

Originally posted by Benjamin Ah, thanks! I had no idea what Circuit courts were. Still great news though.

I'm still kind of wishing the SCOTUS had heard the cases and ruled in favor of marriage all over the nation (assuming they could've done that, could they?); but we don't know exactly why they did what they did, so we should be satisfied with what we've gotten even if some AGs and Govs are still fighting for their bans to stay.

Also, thank you so much for keeping us informed, LuLuDrops!

Originally posted by Eric. I'm still kind of wishing the SCOTUS had heard the cases and ruled in favor of marriage all over the nation (assuming they could've done that, could they?); but we don't know exactly why they did what they did, so we should be satisfied with what we've gotten even if some AGs and Govs are still fighting for their bans to stay. Also, thank you so much for keeping us informed, LuLuDrops!

It's an almost supermajority conservative on the court. So my impression is that they are concerned with the political ramifications of taking actual action in hearing these cases. Choosing to let the lower courts' rulings stay in place suggests that they are waiting for when they can really weigh in on an important decisive case (ergo at least one more appellate court must uphold the ban to consider taking on this issue). And it also suggest that they rather let the states decide these cases if possible but given that the lower circuit courts have ruled them unconstitutional only leads to one conclusion.
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Originally posted by Eric. I'm still kind of wishing the SCOTUS had heard the cases and ruled in favor of marriage all over the nation (assuming they could've done that, could they?); but we don't know exactly why they did what they did, so we should be satisfied with what we've gotten even if some AGs and Govs are still fighting for their bans to stay. Also, thank you so much for keeping us informed, LuLuDrops!

Originally posted by Bibliotheque So it's likely to be 35/50 very soon?

Originally posted by Silas I'm just waiting patiently to see when Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana will come around. I can't wait to see peoples' reactions in those states.

Originally posted by LuLuDrops Florida's stay expires in a few weeks, if no one acts or they're not granted an extension after a positive ruling, marriage will come to the state

Originally posted by Bibliotheque At this rate it will be legal in all 50 by Christmas

Originally posted by ThehushSound Well my communications professor will be pressed as **** tomorrow.