Same panel to hear Oklahoma, Utah marriage appeals
Salt Lake City (AP) — Appeals of same-sex marriage rulings from Utah and Oklahoma will be heard by the same panel of federal judges.
The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order Tuesday saying the briefing and hearings will remain separate in the two cases.
Federal judges in both states recently overturned same-sex marriage bans passed by voters in 2004.
Both cases are on expedited schedules. A decision on Utah's ruling is expected in a few months.
More than 1,000 gay couples married in Utah after a judge overturned the state's ban in late December. The U.S. Supreme Court halted the weddings on Jan. 6 when it granted the state an emergency stay.
In Oklahoma, there were no weddings because a judge granted a stay at the same time he issued the ruling.
In Utah, legislative leaders say they are likely to stay quiet this year on issues related to gay rights.
The 10th Circuit court panel will consider the case of gay marriage in Utah and is not expected to rule until at least March. Democratic and Republican Senate leaders on Tuesday indicated they don't want to risk affecting the state's pending appeal to federal court.
House Speaker Becky Lockhart says it makes sense for lawmakers to hear the coming court decision before weighing in further on the issue. But she said she would not go so far as to block such bills from clearing her chamber.
One of the measures would ban housing and job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Another stipulates that religious officials do not have to perform marriages that violate their beliefs.
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The Gayly – January 29, 2014 @ 7:40am