Court outlaws same-sex marriage bans in Utah

Today’s 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Utah cannot ban same-sex marriages and any such ban would be unconstitutional. There have been similar hearings that have ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, but this is the first federal hearing to do so.

The ruling states, “We hold that the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right to marry, establish a family, raise children, and enjoy the full protection of a state’s marital laws.”

The ruling takes the decision one step closer to the Supreme Court, as the state could ask the decision to pass up the ranks.

Marriages cannot begin immediately due to the stay issued by Judge Carlos Lucero being in effect pending Supreme Court review of the case.

Read more about the decision and the 10th Circuit opinion here.