Northwest News Network

Your Guide To The Legal Battle Over Same Sex Marriage In Idaho

Amber and Rachael filed their lawsuit against Idaho in Nov. 2013. They were married Oct. 15, 2014.In November 2013, eight women -- four couples -- sued the state of Idaho over its 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.The plaintiffs, Susan Latta and Traci Ehlers, Lori Watsen and Sharene Watsen, Shelia Robertson and Andrea Altmayer, and Amber Beierle and Rachael Robertson, say Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage violates equal protection and due process guarantees.Two of the couples have been legally married in other states and two have tried to get Idaho marriage licenses and been denied.Their case went to U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale in May 2014. On May 13, eight days after Dale heard the case, she struck down Idaho's same-sex marriage ban.Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden appealed that ruling in an effort to uphold Idaho's Constitution as approved by voters in 2006.On Oct. 7, 2014, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Dale's ruling, striking down Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage. After more than a week of legal challenges, same-sex marriages began Oct. 15, 2014 in Idaho.

Judge Won't Issue Immediate Decision In Oregon Gay Marriage Case

NWNews | By Chris Lehman,

Chris Lehman

Published April 22, 2014 at 6:50 PM MDT

File photo of the Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Ore.

A federal judge in Oregon will not issue an immediate decision Wednesday in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

That news comes as gay rights advocates prepare to argue their side in Eugene.

Four same-sex couples filed a federal lawsuit for the right to have their marriage legally recognized in Oregon. The state decided not to defend the voter-approved law, so going into this week's oral arguments, no one was scheduled to argue in favor of the gay marriage ban.

But this week the National Organization of Marriage filed a last-minute motion to intervene in the case. U.S. District Judge Michael McShane says he'll let the group make its case on May 14. That means that the Judge won't make a final ruling for at least three more weeks.

The decision leaves gay rights advocates in a holding pattern.

"This case has been interesting from the beginning and it looks like we're going to have a very interesting spring as it unfolds," says Executive Director of the ACLU of Oregon, David Fidanque.

Same-sex marriage advocates were hoping for a quick ruling. That’s because they need to make a decision on whether to put a measure on the ballot this fall to repeal the marriage ban.

Judge Won't Issue Immediate Decision In Oregon Gay Marriage Case

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