Attorney General Pam Bondi filed papers late Monday asking the Florida Supreme Court to step in and decide whether gay couples can marry in the state, the Miami Herald reports:
“That is unquestionably an important issue, and the Plaintiffs, the State, and all citizens deserve a definitive answer,” Bondi's office wrote in a 6 p.m. filing to the state's Third District Court of Appeal. “Until recently, the issue was squarely before the United States Supreme Court, and it appeared that a definitive answer was coming. … Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court decided not to answer the question.”
Bondi has suffered two losses in defense of the state's gay marriage ban, the cases were consolidated, and sent to the Florida Supreme Court. At that time, Bondi asked the Florida Supremes to hold off and wanted SCOTUS to decide.
Since those cases, the state's gay marriage ban has suffered an additional three losses in Broward and Palm Beach counties and in federal court in Tallahassee.
Added Bondi:
“Florida's courts will therefore need to resolve the issue without further United States Supreme Court guidance…Because there are cases pending in multiple districts, and because this is an issue of great public importance that now warrants immediate Florida Supreme Court review, the State respectfully suggests pass-through certification.”
Equality Florida's Nadine Smith released a statement last night:
“While we look forward to having this matter move forward to the Florida Supreme Court, and asked for this on July 30th, AG Bondi and Governor Rick Scott continue to waste taxpayer money while same-sex couples throughout the state continue to endure the indignities of being treated like second-class citizens. Nearly two-thirds of the country now live in a state that values equality. How much longer must loving couples in Florida wait to protect their families? Now is the time for AG Bondi and Gov Scott to step on the right side of history and not let Florida go down in history as one of the last states to uphold the principles of fairness.”
Read Bondi's filing below:
