Texas gay marriage case arguments set for January

[theHandpuppet]

San Antonio Express News
Texas gay marriage case arguments set for January
By Lauren McGaughy, Austin Bureau
October 27, 2014

AUSTIN — The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals tentatively scheduled oral arguments in the Texas and Louisiana gay marriage cases for early January, disappointing local advocates and possibly delaying until 2016 a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Texas gay marriage advocates were disappointed with the Monday announcement. The New Orleans-based appeals court had earlier agreed to expedite the hearing, and the appellees hoped oral arguments would be scheduled before the New Year.

“This doesn't look like a very expedited schedule to me. But justice can't come soon enough,” said Daniel McNeel “Neel” Lane, an attorney for the two same-sex couples challenging Texas' ban on gay marriage. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia of San Antonio struck down the 2005 ban in February, saying it violated couples' 14th Amendment rights to due process and equal protection.

Nicole Dimetman and her wife Cleopatra DeLeon, one couple on the appeal, are expecting the birth of their second child in March. They had requested an expedited hearing in the hopes the legal process would be completed, or at least further along, at that time....

MORE at http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Texas-gay-marriage-case-arguments-set-for-January-5851566.php

[shenmue]

1. Yay!

[okasha]

2. I'm hoping that suits in other states

will cause the withdrawal of the Texas case before it gets that far. The election of Wendy Davis is crucial. Abbott is as bad a bigot and almost as stupid as Perry.

[theHandpuppet]

3. "... almost as stupid as Perry"

Is that even possible??

[okasha]

4. Unfortunately, it is.

Abbott is the idiot who contends that equal marriage will decrease the birth rate of heterosexuals. If you can figure that one out, please explain it to us Texans and claim your Nobel Prize.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Don't you really miss Ann Richards right about now?

It's been a downhill race since then, each successive republican gubernatorial candidate competing for the title of biggest idiot in Texas.

[okasha]

12. Desperately.

And Molly Ivins, and Barbara Jordan and many, many others. Part of the problem, though, has been the Texas Democratic Party. After Bush's election as governor, the party hid in the closet and locked the door from inside. The current election has been a coming out in more ways than one.

[theHandpuppet]

13. I am so hoping for a Wendy Davis win

I think a victory for Wendy could completely reinvigorate the Democratic party in Texas!

[nomorenomore08]

15. Even if she loses, I think the "reinvigoration" will last.

Texas will turn purple at the least, and perhaps eventually solid blue. It's only a matter of time.

[LostOne4Ever]

5. I would love to see my state become the next marriage equality state

I shall drink and drink and drink the bitter tears of the bigots down here!

[okasha]

6. Don't.

There's no known antidote.

[LostOne4Ever]

8. Sage advice!

Though...if Dan Patrick wins as Lt. Governor, arsenic might be worth considering.

[theHandpuppet]

9. I remember him as a sports announcer

He was an asshole then and I see things haven't changed.

[LostOne4Ever]

10. The thing to remember with Texas

Is that the Governor is actually one of the weakest officials in the state. I believe the main benefit of Governorship is that you tend to become the head of your state's party.

Lt. Governor, on the other hand, is the most powerful official in the state.

[theHandpuppet]

11. That's so odd

How does the Lt. Governor wield so much power?

[LostOne4Ever]

14. IIRC from my Texas History class it has to do with reconstruction

There was governor installed by the union under a new constitution who the people of Texas hated. He used the power of the governor to force many radical republican policies and then refused to leave the office after they finally were able to ousted him.

In response they redid the constitution and made the Governorship as weak as they possibly could.