The federal judge considering a
challenge to Oregon's ban on gay marriage said Friday he intends to
file his ruling on Monday at noon.
All parties present during an April 23
hearing, including the state, called on U.S. District Judge Michael
McShane to strike down Oregon's 2004 voter-approved constitutional
amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.
“We simply can't imagine a
rationalization for the ban,” a lawyer for the state told McShane.
In anticipation of the ruling, Oregon
United for Marriage announced last week that it was planning to host
a wedding venue to take place in Portland on the first day gay
couples are allowed to marry.
“We don't know which way the judge
will rule, but we are hopeful that Oregon is on the verge of making
history – and that by next week, all of Oregon's loving, committed
couples will be able to wed in our state,” Amy Ruiz, deputy
campaign manager for Oregon United for Marriage, said in a statement.
A last-minute request by the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM) to intervene in the case temporarily
threatened to slow down the case. McShane denied the request last
week.
(Related: Federal
judge denies NOM's request to intervene in gay marriage case.)