US: NOM’s bid to intervene in Oregon marriage ban case thrown out
An Oregon judge has thrown out the National Organisation for Marriage’s bid to intervene in a court case to defend the state’s same-sex marriage ban.
The anti-gay group filed a last-ditch effort to defend the state’s marriage ban last month, after Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum declined to do so, leaving the ban undefended in court.
However, NOM admitted in a brief earlier this week that they could not find a single county clerk or business in the state willing to be publicly attached to their motion.
They had argued that they should be able to do so on the basis of their anonymous membership, but Judge Michael McShane rejected that argument today.
According to the Statesman-Journal, he said: “I know many Oregonians are probably disappointed by the lack of adversaries in this case, but I am not prepared to substitute the executive [with an outside advocacy group].
“This is an Oregon case. It will remain an Oregon case.”
“It would be like me telling Ms. Rosenblum, who is sitting right next to you, that, ‘I am going to be replacing you with someone who doesn’t answer to you’.”
The group indicated they will appeal the judge’s decision, but it is highly unlikely their case will be heard.
