Here’s what you need to know about today’s historic meeting at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Today is the highly-anticipated, super-secret meeting of all nine Supreme Court Justices. During the closed-door conference, the Justices — the only ones allowed in the room — will have before them five same-sex marriage cases, among other very important issues.
The Court today can decided to take one or more of the cases, or to take none of them. They can put off the decision for another closed-door conference — there will be three next month and ten total by year’s end — or just ignore same-sex marriage altogether.
Court watchers are mixed on what will ultimately happen.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has said the Court will not “duck” the issue, but later acknowledged that until an Appeals Court issues a decision in contrast with current decisions, there’s “no urgency” to take up a same-sex marriage case. Usually, the Supreme Court sill take a case like this only when two Appeals Courts have issued varying verdicts, and all Appeals Courts so far have all supported same-sex marriage.
But MSNBC believes there are several good reasons to believe the Court will take up same-sex marriage.
Citing Ginsburg’s comments, they also point to “pressure” from both sides, the quick momentum in the nation’s acceptance of same-sex couples marrying, and the fact that the Supreme Court has already gotten involved in same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court has issued rulings staying decisions in Virginia and Utah, indicating a willingness to not just let the issue run its course.
And NBC’s Pete Williams says we may not even know what the Court decides for weeks.
Meanwhile, AFER’s Matt Baume offers this insight:
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Image by Elvert Barnes via Flickr