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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.

U.S. Supreme Court Could Examine Oregon Gay Marriage Case

NWNews | By Chris Lehman,

Chris Lehman

Published May 30, 2014 at 5:17 PM MDT

File photo of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

The issue of whether gay marriage is legal in Oregon may not be settled after all.

The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether to issue a stay on U.S. District Judge Michael McShane's May 19 ruling that overturned Oregon's same-sex marriage ban. Same-sex couples started getting married the same day.

The National Organization For Marriage is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to put that ruling on hold while the group pursues its attempts to intervene in the case. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy asked attorneys on both sides of the issue to submit arguments on whether the court should issue a stay.

Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond who's been closely watching same-sex marriage cases nationally, said Justice Kennedy could decide on his own whether or not to issue a stay.

Tobias added, "Or he may refer it over to all the justices, all nine of them, and I think rule pretty quickly. But we'll see."

Gay-rights advocates called the National Organization For Marriage's effort a last-ditch attempt to block same-sex marriage in Oregon.

Supporters of gay marriage have until June 2 to submit briefs in the case.

U.S. Supreme Court Could Examine Oregon Gay Marriage Case

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