US: Colorado judge rules in favour of gay marriage, immediately issues stay
A judge in Colorado has overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage, only to put his own judgement on hold until it is backed-up by a court with greater authority.
Adams County District Judge C. Scott Crabtree ruled on Wednesday that the state’s gay marriage ban was unconstitutional. He wrote: “The court holds that the marriage bans violate plaintiffs’ due process and equal protection guarantees under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
He also said that limiting same-sex couples to civil unions instead of marriages “is further evidence of discrimination against same-sex couples.”
Nevertheless, he immediately issued a stay on his own ruling “pending a resolution of this matter on appeal”, saying that the “final chapter of this undoubtedly has to be written in either Denver, Colorado, or Washington, DC”.
“The court finds that a stay is necessary to avoid the instability and uncertainty which would result in the state of Colorado if the court did not stay its ruling and for the orderly administration of justice,” he said.
Judge Crabtree becomes the 16th judge to rule against state’s gay marriage ban, since the Supreme Court ruled in favour of same-sex marriage by striking down DOMA last year.
The motion against Hall was filed by Republican Attorney General John Suthers. In a statement responding to Judge Crabtree’s decision, he said: “Judge Crabtree provides additional clarity that until the high court rules on the issue of same-sex marriage, Colorado’s current laws remain in place.”
“Adherence to the rule of law will bring about the final resolution with the greatest certainty and legal legitimacy,” Suthers added.
Colorado’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was narrowly passed in 2006 with 55% of votes. However, a poll in April this year found that 61% of voters in Colorado supported same-sex marriage, with the figure rising to 81% in the 18 to 29 age group.
