Monday, January 06, 2014

What legal procedure puts a decision by the Supreme Court ahead of the Appellate Court? "Statute Opps?"

Or is this one of those, "Likely to win at the Supreme Court?"
Tribune wire report
1:37 p.m. CSTJanuary 6, 2014
...Gay couples in Utah (click here) were thrown into legal limbo Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court put a halt to same-sex marriages in the state, turning jubilation to doubt just weeks after a judge's ruling sent more than a thousand couples rushing to get married.
The justices did not rule on the merits of the case or on same-sex marriage bans in general, leaving both sides confident they'll ultimately win. The decision stays in effect while the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers the long-term question of whether gay couples have a right to wed in Utah.
For those couples who just got married — or were planning their nuptials — the latest twist in the legal battle clouds what was seen as a cause for celebration.
"It feels like we are second-class citizens during the stay," said Moudi Sbeity, who is waiting to get married until the legal process plays out. "There's also the fear of the unknown of what might come next."
Sbeity and partner Derek Kitchen are among three couples who brought the Utah lawsuit that led to the surprise Dec. 20 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby, who said the state's ban on same-sex marriage violated gay and lesbian couples' constitutional rights....
State officials praised Monday's decision to put a hold on things, saying it should have come earlier. Two previous courts turned down their request for a stay.