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Idaho Governor, AG Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court Over Gay Marriage

Patrick McKay
/
Flickr
U.S. Supreme Court

Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court making good on his promise to take the fight against gay marriage to the highest court in the land.

The Spokesman Review reports Otter wants the court to take up Idaho's case, saying it's an "ideal vehicle" to finally decide the debate over gay marriage.

Butch Otter
Credit State of Idaho

The newspaper also says Attorney General Lawrence Wasden filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court Friday in the same case.

Gay marriage has been legal in Idaho since October 15.

Since the case against Idaho's law began in 2013, Idaho has run up a large tab fighting to keep the law on the books.

"Idaho already has run up close to half a million dollars in legal bills fighting the decision, more than $400,000 of that in an order from the federal court to pay the winning side’s attorney fees and costs. Otter also has spent nearly $100,000 on outside attorneys." -Spokesman Review

The attorney who fought to legalize gay marriage in Idaho says she is ready to take on the case in the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary.

Here's a snapshot of the case to date:

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.

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.

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.

Clarification: When this story was first published it said Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden intended to file an appeal Monday. He then filed on Friday. The story has been changed accordingly.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio

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