US: Second Supreme Court justice performs same-sex wedding
A second Supreme Court justice has performed a same-sex wedding.
Justice Elena Kagan officiated her first same-sex ceremony for her former law clerk Mitchell Reich and his husband Patrick Pearsall.
The pair married this weekend in the town of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
A spokesperson from the Supreme Court confirmed it was the first time Justice Kagan had officiated – though fellow justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg has performed at least three.
Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has also performed same-sex weddings, but not while a member of the Supreme Court.
The court is due to hold a closed-door meeting on 29 September, when it will review pending appeals surrounding same-sex marriage bans from Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma,Utah, and Virginia.
Justice Bader Ginsburg – one of the most liberal justices on the court, who has herself performed same-sex weddings – said this week that the Supreme Court will not be “rushed” into making a decision on the issue.
32 states have petitioned the Supreme Court to rule on same-sex marriage bans.
