Republican Nebraska Governor Pete
Ricketts on Monday appealed a ruling striking down the state's ban on
gay marriage.
U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon
ordered officials to “treat same-sex couples the same as different
sex couples in the context of processing a marriage license or
determining the rights, protections, obligations or benefits of
marriage” in a ruling handed down Monday morning. Bataillon stayed
his order until March 9.
(Related: Nebraska's
gay marriage ban struck down; Ruling effective March 9.)
Ricketts, a defendant in the case,
within an hour filed
a notice of appeal in the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of
Appeals in St. Louis.
The governor, whose openly lesbian
sister, Laura Ricketts, co-owns the Chicago Cubs, said the issue
should be left to the voters, not an “activist judge.”
“Today, a judge took steps to
overturn a constitutional amendment approved by 70% of Nebraskans
that defines marriage as between one man and one woman,” Ricketts
said in a statement.
“The definition of marriage is an
issue for the people of Nebraska, and an activist judge should not
substitute his personal political preferences for the will of the
people. I will continue to work with Attorney General Doug Peterson
to uphold Nebraska’s Constitution and the will of the people of our
great state,” he added.
Officials are expected to elaborate on
their plans during a press conference scheduled to take place at 1:30
PM local time.