3 Weeks Before Election Day AG Pam Bondi Asks Florida Supreme Court To Decide Gay Marriage

Embattled Attorney General Pam Bondi late Monday night announced she is asking the Florida Supreme Court to decide on same-sex marriage – just three weeks before Election Day.

Exactly three weeks before Election Day, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she will petition the Florida State Supreme court to decide the issue of same-sex marriage.

“The sole issue on appeal is whether the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires states to allow same-sex marriage. That is unquestionably an important issue, and the Plaintiffs, the State, and all citizens deserve a definitive answer,” Bondi’s filing to the state’s Third District Court of Appeal states.

Bondi apparently had been expecting the U.S. Supreme Court to take a same-sex marriage case, but that changed one week ago.

“Until recently, the issue was squarely before the United States Supreme Court, and it appeared that a definitive answer was coming. … Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court decided not to answer the question.”

“Florida’s courts will therefore need to resolve the issue without further United States Supreme Court guidance,” Bondi’s filing continues. “Because there are cases pending in multiple districts, and because this is an issue of great public importance that now warrants immediate Florida Supreme Court review, the State respectfully suggests pass-through certification.”

LGBT activists issued a strong response.

“While we look forward to having this matter move forward to the Florida Supreme Court, and asked for this on July 30th, AG Bondi and Governor Rick Scott continue to waste taxpayer money while same-sex couples throughout the state continue to endure the indignities of being treated like second-class citizens,” Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida, said in a statement.

“Nearly two-thirds of the country now live in a state that values equality,” Smith continued. “How much longer must loving couples in Florida wait to protect their families?  Now is the time for AG Bondi and Gov Scott to step on the right side of history and not let Florida go down in history as one of the last states to uphold the principles of fairness.”

 

Image: Plaintiffs in Florida’s Pareto v. Ruvin same-sex marriage case.
Photo via National Center for Lesbian Rights

 

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