Big news: The plaintiffs in the Tennessee same-sex marriage case have filed a motion requesting the U.S. Supreme Court review the 6th Circuit’s ruling that upheld same-sex marriage bans.
Just hours after the Ohio plaintiffs who lost their same-sex marriage case in the 6th Circuit filed a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, the plaintiffs in the Tennessee case have also filed.
Last week the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals became the first appellate court to rule against same-sex marriage, finding that states, specifically Michigan, can ban same-sex marriage. All cases in the states governed by the 6th Circuit, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, are expected to file with the Supreme Court by Monday.
The plaintiffs will all ask the nation’s highest court to review the 6th Circuit judges’ decision. That ruling was 2-1, with the dissenting judge scoring huge points with the LGBT community and supporters of marriage equality, while the majority opinion has been dissected and deemed faulty by many.
In the Tennessee filing this afternoon, plaintiffs filed a 47-page motion (Ohio plaintiffs filed a 267-page motion) stating repeatedly that the 6th Circuit decision was “inconsistent” with Supreme Court prior rulings.
The plaintiffs are Dr. Valeria Tanco and Dr. Sophy Jesty of Knoxville  (photo, above,); Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Ijpe DeKoe and Thom Kostura of Memphis; and Matthew Mansell and Johno Espejo of Franklin.
“We live in fear for ourselves and our little girl because we don’t have the same legal protections in Tennessee as other families and we’re hopeful that the United States Supreme Court will resolve this issue so we no longer need to live in fear,” Dr. Jesty told her attorneys, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). “Every day we’re denied marriage equality in our state is another day that our family’s wellbeing is jeopardized.”
In over 50 rulings judges have decided on the side of same-sex marriage, and in only four, including the 6th Circuit’s, have they supported discrimination.
The Supreme Court can grant the request and review the case, or it can ignore the request, or it can deny it.
Over at Buzzfeed, Chris Geidner points out some legal concerns with the argument made in the Tennessee writ of certiorari.
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