Washington Court to rule very soon on equal marriage case

[TechBear_Seattle]

Perhaps it is my well-cultivated sense of cynicism, but I believe the Washington State Supreme Court will rule on Anderson v King County either today or next Thursday.

Court opinions have traditionally been published on Thursdays, and have (ever since I've been watching for them) been published on the Court's website by 10am Thursday mornings. (See recent opinions.) As of 1pm Thursday afternoon... nothing.

Interestingly enough, the calendar of the state legislature indicates that 5pm tomorrow is the final day to consider most matters of business. There is little doubt that the ruling will be to toss the bomb into the Legislature, so what better way to avoid a horrific mess than to make the Legislature act, but not until after the election next year?

It might even be that, instead of today, this week's rulings will be issued tomorrow morning. By the time the news is disseminated, it will be too late for the Legislature to propose any law that would enact or bypass the ruling. If Anderson is not handed down this week, I will bet a steak dinner that it will be handed down next week, on March 9, a year and two days after oral arguments were heard (when rulings usually are forthcoming within six months of hearing arguments.)

Added Sorry, I should have put the information about the case itself here in the original post.

On March 8, 2005, the Washington Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether or not the state's "defense" of marriage act (RCW 26.04.010 (1)) violated the Washington State Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 12: No law shall be passed granting to any citizen, class of citizens, or corporation other than municipal, privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens, or corporations.

The case was the combination of two cases, Anderson et al. v. King County et. al, and Castle et al. v. State of Washington et al. In both cases, Superior Court judges ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and declared the state prohibition against equal marriage to be unconstitutional. Rather than let the state appeals court add two more rulings against the state law, the Supreme Court stepped in and agreed to combine the cases and hear the appeal directly. Oral arguments before the Supreme Court were made on March 8, 2005. A ruling has not yet been given.

[MadMaddie]

1. I am in the Puget sound...

What is the case Anderson v King County about?

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. The case is about equal marriage

My apologies for not including that info in my rant :hi:

On March 8, 2005, the Washington Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether or not the state's "defense" of marriage act (RCW 26.04.010 (1)) violated the Washington State Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 12: No law shall be passed granting to any citizen, class of citizens, or corporation other than municipal, privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens, or corporations.

The case was the combination of two cases, Anderson et al. v. King County et. al, and Castle et al. v. State of Washington et al. In both cases, Superior Court judges ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and declared the state prohibition against equal marriage to be unconstitutional. Rather than let the state appeals court add two more rulings against the state law, the Supreme Court stepped in and agreed to combine the cases and hear the appeal directly. Oral arguments before the Supreme Court were made on March 8, 2005. A ruling has not yet been given.

[MadMaddie]

4. Thanks for posting I knew it was coming up before the court...

one can only hope the court finds that the defense of marriage act violates the state constitution.

Thanks,

[northernsoul]

2. for us non-Washintonians - what is the case about?

inquiring minds want to know...