According to state officials, Indiana
paid more than $1.4 million in fees fighting five federal court cases
that challenged the state's ban on gay marriage.
The cases were resolved last year when
the Supreme Court refused to hear appeals in two cases decided by
lower courts in favor of the plaintiffs. The high court's decision
not to hear the cases led to the start of same-sex nuptials in
Indiana.
According to information provided by
the state attorney general's office, Indiana paid more than $1.4
million to attorneys who represented plaintiffs. The state paid an
additional $7,000 on other related costs in the lead case.
A case before the Supreme Court
considers challenges to bans in Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and
Michigan. The justices decided to take these cases after the
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Sixth Circuit became the first appeals court
to uphold such bans since the high court struck down a key provision
of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in June, 2013. A ruling is
expected next month.
If the Supreme Court upholds the bans
as constitutional, Indiana would not be affected, though the state
would be free to enact new laws.