The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider petitions related to states’ bans on same-sex marriage. This means that the many appellate courts decisions that allowed same-sex marriage can now move forward. 
Aaron Bruhl, University of Houston Law Center Associate Professor of Law and George Butler Research Professor, has been closely following the issue of gay rights as it has made its way through the nation’s courts and legislatures.
“Many courts across the country have been ruling in favor of the right of same-sex couples to marry. Today, the Supreme Court decided not to review several cases that had invalidated state bans on same-sex marriage, thereby clearing the way for same-sex marriages to take place in those states. The Court’s action surprised many observers, given the importance of the issue. Perhaps the Court is waiting for a conflict to develop in the lower courts, or perhaps the Court is just not yet ready to settle the issue definitively. Because there are other cases pending in various parts of the country, including in Texas, the Supreme Court will have more opportunities to consider the issue in the future,” Bruhl said.
To schedule an interview with Professor Bruhl, contact Marisa Ramirez at mrcannon@uh.edu or 713-743-8152.