A federal judge on Tuesday denied a
motion to delay arguments in a case challenging Oregon's ban on gay
marriage.
The National Organization for Marriage
(NOM) filed a motion to intervene in the case on Monday, two days
before arguments were scheduled before U.S. District Judge Michael
McShane.
As of Sunday, no legal arguments for
upholding the ban, approved by voters in 2004, had been submitted.
The state called the ban legally indefensible in court documents.
NOM also asked the court to delay
Wednesday's hearing.
“A continuance would allow NOM an
opportunity to prepare a final and more comprehensive brief in
opposition and also allow Plaintiffs an opportunity to file Reply
briefs addressing the substantive legal issues that NOM will raise in
its brief in opposition,” NOM explained in its request.
The motion “is DENIED as untimely,”
McShane ordered.
McShane also asked parties to file
briefs on the motion to intervene by May 9 and set a May 14 date for
oral arguments.