Supreme Court rules DOMA unconstitutional on 5-4 vote, and dismisses Prop 8 case for lack of standing. More to come.
The DOMA opinion is here.
The Prop 8 opinion is here.
On DOMA:
Justice Kennedy: The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity. By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others.
Justice Scalia: The Court’s opinion both in explaining its jurisdiction and its decision “both spring from the same diseased root: an exalted notion of the role of this court in American democratic society.”
On Prop 8
A blog on what might happen if, as happened, it was dismissed for lack of standing.
From Scotus blog: There will be much further discussion and analysis about how the decision in Perry affects other couples in California. For the time being, we will say this: the Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal challenging a final order from the trial court. It would appear, then, that the order will go into effect. And it appears that this final order purports to prohibit the Attorney General and the Governor from enforcing Prop. 8.
There could well be new challenges to the scope of that order. But for the time being, the order appears to be in effect and to prevent enforcement of Proposition 8 statewide.