A federal district court judge in
Nevada has canceled oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging Nevada's
ban on gay marriage.
U.S. District Chief Judge Robert Jones
has canceled a hearing previously scheduled to take place on November
26 in Reno. Instead, Jones is expected to render an opinion based on
briefs filed in the case, reported Prop 8 Trial Tracker, a blog of
gay rights advocate Courage Campaign.
During an August 10 initial hearing,
Jones expressed skepticism about the need for a separate hearing.
Lambda Legal filed the challenge in
April on behalf of eight gay and lesbian couples who wish to marry in
Nevada.
The lead plaintiffs in the case are two
women in their 70s who have raised 3 children and have 4
grandchildren. Beverly Sevcik, 73, and Mary Baranovich, 76, have
been together more than four decades.
Jones reportedly told lawyers from both
sides that he wanted to quickly
decide the lawsuit.
In 2002, Nevada voters overwhelmingly
approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a
heterosexual union. Nevada began recognizing gay and lesbian couples
with domestic partnerships in 2009.
(Related: Nevada
to consider repealing gay marriage ban.)