A federal judge has declined to issue a ruling on Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban, opting instead to wait on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on separate gay marriage cases it’s due to hear.
“I think it’s worth the wait,” U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said, in a USA Today report. “I don’t know what the Supreme Court is going to do.”
Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2004 defining marriage between a man and woman, and banning same-sex marriage. Gay rights supporters were hoping the case before Mr. Friedman might overturn that ban. The case was was to help decide the legal status of three children being raised by two Michigan women, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, USA Today reported.
Ms. DeBoer has an adopted daughter. Ms. Rowse has two adopted sons. And the couple wanted to have legal joint custody of all three. Michigan law prohibits unmarried couples from having joint custody, however, USA Today reports.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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