Marriage Equality Update!

Chief Justice John Roberts has agreed to allow the Supreme Court to decide whether or not a stay is justified in the Virginia same-sex marriage case.  After the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of county clerk Michèle McQuigg to place a stay on its ruling that found Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, her attorneys asked the Supreme Court to intervene.  Acknowledging the request, Chief Justice Roberts has ordered information to be filed by tomorrow, August 18 at 5:00 pm. The Court could have granted the stay as requested, refused to grant the stay, or ignored the request and not responded. The Supreme Court has granted every stay request in a same-sex marriage case since its DOMA ruling last year.  The Fourth Circuit confirmed that marriages in Virginia could begin this Thursday. That still holds, unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise – which is likely.