and wouldn't commit them to saying there's an equal protection right to marriage regardless of gender.

So, would that bode ill for tomorrow's hearing on DOMA?

So, would that bode ill for tomorrow's hearing on DOMA?

I would say that if the Supremes dismiss the Prop 8 case on standing, then they are unlikely to get to the merits on DOMA if they can avoid it.

I would say that if the Supremes dismiss the Prop 8 case on standing, then they are unlikely to get to the merits on DOMA if they can avoid it.

So I interpreted that correctly. Well, that blows. I mean, it would be good that the 9th Circuit ruling on Prop. 8 would stand, but if this means that SCOTUS doesn't want to rule on DOMA, that blows.

t edited for verb tense

Ugh--why would they TAKE DOMA unless they want to say something about it? So weird.

Sounds like the best option for a conservative court and GOP handlers who don't want the bad publicity of ruling against a popular stand.

edit: ie, saying "No, that's not really a matter for the Supremes."

DOMA is a federal law and they may have to be more definitive about dealing with it, rather than ruling on a state law.

Norwegian Fjord Horses with extra cool haircuts.

(Mane-cuts. . . trimmed or roached manes.)

San Franciscans! My good friend and her hubs are going to be in your city next week. Any suggestions of things to do, see, eat and shop? They like beer, crafty things, books, history and her DH likes baseball. (I know they are doing a Napa tour one day, and they are going to an A's game. Alcatraz is on the list and they are planning to get a city pass.)

Correction: If they dismiss the prop 8 case, the 9th Cir case would be vacated, but he district court decision would remain in place (it invalidated prop 8).

unless they can't reach a majority, and then the 9th cir decision stands . . .

Procedure matters!

This [link] is interesting--I didn't know that FB advertisers can pick specifically which users to advertise to, like "all of my current patients" for instance.

DOMA is a federal law and they may have to be more definitive about dealing with it, rather than ruling on a state law

Yeah, the problem with DOMA is that, IIRC, there is a split in the district courts on its constitutionality. So there's justification for taking it, and I don't know about any problems with standing, but given sufficient incentive I'm sure the Supremes can come up with an argument for not getting to the merits.

I do think they could invalidate DOMA without getting to the merits by finding it a violation of the full faith and credit clause, which has always been a weakness. But given how reluctant they are to address Prop 8, that seems unlikely.