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Arizona And Wyoming Will Soon Give Up Their Fights Against Marriage Equality

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead CREDIT: AP PHOTO/BEN NEARY
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead CREDIT: AP PHOTO/BEN NEARY

The marriage equality dominoes are not done falling, and Arizona and Wyoming could well be the next states where same-sex marriage becomes the law of the land. That’s because officials in both states have indicated that they will stop defending their bans once a court rules against them.

Arizona is impacted by the Ninth Circuit’s decision overturning marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho. Attorney General Tom Horne (R) indicated Thursday his understanding that the precedent will also overturn Arizona’s, but he also asked the judge hearing the Arizona case to wait until the Ninth Circuit had issued its final mandate in Idaho. That hasn’t technically happened yet thanks to delays from Idaho’s request for a stay from the Supreme Court last week.Though the stay has been lifted, same-sex couples are marrying, and Gov. Butch Otter (R) has indicated that he will not appeal, the legal loose ends have not yet been all tied up.

Wyoming is in a similar boat, falling under the jurisdiction of the Tenth Circuit, which ruled against bans in Utah and Oklahoma. After oral arguments Thursday, U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl said that he would issue a ruling by Monday afternoon. Gov. Matt Mead (R) responded, “No, we shouldn’t appeal the ruling.”

Thus, neither state will wait much longer. Wyoming will likely have marriage equality by the end of the day Monday, and with Lambda Legal calling for an immediate ruling in Arizona, it might happen just as soon.

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