Sixth Circuit to hear arguments in same-sex marriage case on August 6

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is set to hear arguments regarding same-sex marriage from the four states within its jurisdiction on Wednesday, August 6. The cases include:

• A Michigan case involving the constitutionality of the state's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The district court ruled that this ban violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution in March 2014.
• Ohio consolidated cases involving the constitutionality of the state's ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states. The district court ruled that Ohio must recognize valid same-sex marriages from other states on birth and death certificates and enjoined the state from enforcing Ohio's ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states in December 2013 and April 2014.  
• Kentucky consolidated cases involving the constitutionality of the state's ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states and the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage. The district court ruled these unconstitutional in February 2014 and July 2014, respectively, and
• A Tennessee case involving the constitutionality of the state's statute banning same-sex marriages from other states. The district court ruled this was unconstitutional in March 2014. 

These cases will be heard before the three-judge panel of Justices Daughtrey, Sutton and Cook at 1pm on August 6. Both the 10th and 4th Circuits have recently struck down state same-sex marriage bans within their respective jurisdictions. 

For more information about these cases please see the following from SCOTUSBlog, The Plain Dealer. and Sixth Circuit Appellate Blog.