Federal Court of Appeals Tosses Same-Sex Marriage Case

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Friday in Smelt v. Orange County, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a challenge brought by same-sex marriage advocates. Liberty Counsel defended the case on behalf of Campaign for California Families, which was granted defendant-intervenor status.
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Today's decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the suit. The Court abstained from ruling on the state law claims because the state law challenge is currently pending in the California state courts. The Court noted that marriage has always been of paramount importance to the state and the state has always regulated the institution. The Court therefore said it must give deference to the state.