Sign of the times? In an election year, Republican Governor Brian Sandoval is refusing to defend Nevada’s constitutional ban on same – sex marriage.
Nevada Officials Won’t Defend Gay Marriage Ban
In an about-face, Nevada has decided against defending its constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, the latest step in a series of battles being waged across the nation on the volatile issue.
Nevada’s attorney general and governor said Monday that they won’t defend the state’s gay marriage ban pending before a federal appeals court, saying a recent court decision made the state’s arguments “no longer defensible.”
Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto filed a motion with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that said Nevada’s legal arguments supporting the voter-approved prohibition aren’t viable in light of the court’s recent ruling that said potential jurors cannot be removed from a trial during jury selection solely because of sexual orientation.
“After thoughtful review and analysis, the state has determined that its arguments grounded upon equal protection and due process are no longer sustainable,” Masto said in a statement.
Nevada’s move comes as courts around the country and the federal government have chipped away at laws that prohibit same-sex marriage and benefits in recent months. Meanwhile, some states and interest groups have rallied to defend limiting marriage to between a man and a woman.
In a one-month span from December to January, two federal judges struck down state bans on gay marriage for the same reason Nevada dropped it case, concluding that they violate the Constitution’s promise of equal protection under the law.”
Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican seeking re-election this year, said he agreed with the Democratic attorney general’s action.
“Based upon the advice of the attorney general’s office and their interpretation of relevant case law, it has become clear that this case is no longer defensible in court,” Sandoval said in an email to The Associated Press.
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- Nevada officials won’t defend gay marriage ban (washingtontimes.com)
