Gay marriage won't go direct to Fla. Supreme Court

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi lost a round in state district court. Official photo.

Miami (AP) — A Florida appeals court has refused to let Attorney General Pam Bondi take the state's gay marriage ban directly to the Florida Supreme Court.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal on Friday indicated it will likely rule itself on previous decisions striking down the Miami-Dade and Monroe counties bans.

Several Florida judges ruled this summer that Florida's ban is unconstitutional but stayed their rulings until other cases around the country were resolved, including those pending with the U.S. Supreme Court. It recently declined to hear appeals from five states that sought to keep their marriage bans in place. The American Civil Liberties Unions, and attorneys for the couples in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties then sued to overturn the stay.

If they prevail, Bondi could then go to the Supreme Court.

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The Gayly – October 26, 2014 @ 3:45pm