Indiana News

Three-Judge Panel to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Arguments

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WOWO): A three-judge panel will hear Indiana's appeal of a ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, rather than the full appeals court as the Attorney General had sought.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that a three-judge panel was sufficient to hear the appeal of U.S. District Judge Richard Young's ruling. Attorney General Greg Zoeller had asked all ten judges on the court to consider the appeal, he said to speed up the legal process which is expected to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. “We understand that the 7th Circuit generally uses a three-judge panel and generally reserves en banc consideration to review decisions of the panel, so this procedural ruling is not unexpected,” said Bryan Corbin, spokesman for Zoeller in a statement emailed to reporters.

The 7th Circuit also delayed oral arguments in the case until August 26 – they had been scheduled for August 13.

Zoeller is appealing the June 25th decision from Young which said the state's ban on same sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution. The 7th Circuit issued a stay of the order two days later, putting hundreds of same-sex marriages that took place between June 25-27 in limbo. Governor Pence said the state would not recognize the marriages as legal, though the courts forced Indiana to recognize one same-sex marriage, that of Niki Quasney and Amy Sandler of Munster because of Quasney‘s terminal cancer.

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