The Supreme Court on Friday took no
action on cases challenging gay marriage bans in five states.
The justices discussed for the first
time appeals from four cases out of the Sixth Circuit, the lone
appeals court to uphold such bans, and Louisiana, but did not agree
to hear any of them. Cases out of the Sixth Circuit include
challenges to bans in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
To be included in the current term,
justices must choose to hear one or more of the cases this month.
In October, the high court allowed
appellate court rulings striking down bans in Utah, Oklahoma,
Virginia, Wisconsin and Indiana to take effect. Since then, justices
have consistently refused to intervene in other cases, effectively
increasing the number of states where gay couples can marry to 36,
with Florida being the latest.
However, the five cases currently
before the court differ in that each upheld restrictive state
marriage bans as constitutional.
The justices may reconsider the cases
as early as Monday.
(Related: 5th
Circuit hears arguments in cases challenging gay marriage bans in 3
states.)