The Supreme Court issued its order Friday: The application for stay presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is denied. Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas would grant the application for stay.
Rejecting a request by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to maintain a judge’s stay that would have kept same-sex couples from marrying in the state, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriages to begin in Florida next month.
The stay was a result of the ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle, who said in August that Florida’s 2008 ban is unconstitutional.
Dan Tilley
“This is a thrilling day for all Florida families,” said Dan Tilley, attorney for the American Civil Liberties of Florida.
“As we explained to the court, every day that the ban remains in place, couples are suffering real harms. We are grateful that the court recognized that, and that as a result, those days are finally coming to an end.”
As has happened with many similar cases, Judge Hinkle issued a stay on his own ruling that Florida’s ban was illegal, to give the state time to appeal. That stay is set to expire on Jan. 5.
Bondi filed a request with Justice Clarence Thomas, who oversees the 11th Circuit, asking him to maintain the stay.
The Supreme Court issued its order Friday:
“The application for stay presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is denied. Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas would grant the application for stay.”
