Prop 8 – What the Supreme Court didn’t do.

In Hollingsworth v. Perry (aka the Prop 8 case), the Supreme Court allowed the District Court’s ruling to stand – striking down Prop 8.  The Court did not, however, affirm gay marriage or reach the underlying merits of the case.  The majority decision simply said that the initiative’s proponents could not bring an appeal.  They did not have “standing“.

The end result is good news for gay marriage in California.  In fact, clerks will likely be able to start issuing marriage licenses in the very near future.  But the ramifications (at least with regard to gay marriage in other states) is limited.

For additional information, please see http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/hollingsworth-v-perry/.