After conducting a brief hearing on
Wednesday, a federal judge rejected the National Organization for
Marriage's (NOM) attempt to intervene in a lawsuit challenging
Oregon's ban on gay marriage.
NOM, the nation's most vociferous
opponent of marriage equality, filed a motion to intervene in the
case on April 21, 2 days before U.S. District Judge Michael McShane
heard arguments in the case.
(Related: Oregon
to judge hearing challenge to gay marriage ban: No rational reason
for ban.)
“Today's ruling is a huge victory –
and it paves the way for what I hope will be the ultimate victory:
Winning marriage for all loving couples in Oregon,” Amy Ruiz,
deputy campaign manager for Oregon United for Marriage, said in a
statement.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum
had filed a brief urging McShane to deny NOM's request based on being
“untimely.” She also argued that NOM would not have legal
standing to appeal any decision to a higher court.
NOM said in filing the request that
Rosenblum's stance “only serves to highlight the importance to the
adversarial process of NOM's motion to intervene.”
McShane has not said when he expects to
rule in the case.