U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon’s decision Monday means that same-sex marriage is now against the law in fewer than one in four states.
Nebraska state officials immediately appealed the ruling to the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Bataillon denied a state request to stay his decision. And so, beginning Monday the state must “treat same-sex couples the same as different sex couples” when it comes to marriage rights, the federal injunction reads.
As the dominoes fall in favor of same-sex marriages, the question now seems to be which state will be the last?
Nebraska is #Out4Freedom! Marriages can begin March 9. pic.twitter.com/ayIYigCFLj
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The state’s ban was struck down in January 2014 by a federal judge who said it serves “no legitimate governmental purpose.” But, as in many other states, enforcement was delayed pending appeals. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard the case last month and a ruling is pending.
Ohio
A federal appeals court judge upheld a ban last year on same-sex marriages in the state. That decision is part of the U.S. Supreme Court case expected to be finalized this summer.
Tennessee
In November 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the state’s ban. That decision also will be part of the U.S. Supreme Court case.
