Judge rejects Abbott’s latest effort to move same-sex marriage lawsuit out of San Antonio
A key hearing in a federal lawsuit challenging Texas’ same-sex marriage bans will go forward next month in San Antonio.
U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia, of the Western District of Texas, on Wednesday rejected Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s latest effort to transfer the lawsuit from San Antonio to Austin.
Garcia cited key differences between the San Antonio lawsuit, known as DeLeon v. Perry, and two other lawsuits challenging the marriage bans that are pending before U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks in Austin. Garcia’s decision to deny Abbott’s motion means a hearing in DeLeon v. Perry will take place as scheduled in February.
“The Court finds that while both lawsuits filed in the Austin court share a common issue with the present lawsuit in that all Plaintiffs challenge he constitutionality of Defendants’ refusal to let them marry their same-sex partners, the three lawsuits differ in important respects,” Garcia wrote.
More at http://www.lonestarq.com/breaking-judge-rejects-abbotts-latest-effort-move-marriage-case-san-antonio/ .
Cross-posted in the LGBT Group.