Early yesterday morning (Monday, June 22, 2015), the US Supreme Court decided not to stay an order from an appellate court. Why does this matter? It matters because it is a tip of the hand that rarely happens in this Article III institution.
A Federal Judge recently invalidated Alabama’s ban on Gay Marriage. Instead of issuing a stay on that ruling, which would prevent the ban to move forward, allowing the ban to stand, the Court did nothing. What this means is that Alabama’s ban on Gay Marriage is still subject to that Federal Judge’s order, making the ban illegal.
So what, you ask? The US Supreme court is currently wrestling with several other Gay Marriage bans from other States, and their ruling is expected to come out before the end of this summer. Some would say it is coming out before the end of the month.
Why would they allow Gay Marriages (which is what they, in effect, did) if you are going to uphold a bunch of other bans? That makes no sense.
While this is a bit of speculation at this point, I would be willing to bet $1 that my prediction, that the US Supreme Court will invalidate bans on Gay Marriage, will come true. Time will tell.